I've been watching this Bristolgate situation on TV for quite a while (we all know that news outlets haven't covered the same story for 24 hours straight since 9/11) and to be honest, I'm tired of it. What's Bristolgate? My own personal term for the "scandal" that is Sarah Palin's daughter, Bristol. More specifically, the fact that she got knocked up. Five months ago.
My opinion on it? Yes, you're going to get it, because it's my blog.
I feel bad for the kids. All of Palin's kids, and her due-in-four-months grandchild. They didn't ask for any of this attention, and they're under significant scrutiny that none of us have ever had to experience. Bristol may have made some decisions that aren't in her own best interest, but she's decided to address the issue and make the best of it. Her mother, who didn't ask that her daughter get knocked up, is doing the same. Now the media is indirectly and directly criticizing Sarah Palin, Bristol Palin, and even John McCain for a litany of reasons. Frankly, it's not anything NEW in this world. It's not new to this generation, it's not new to this country, and it's not new to the news media.
Here's what I have a problem with. First of all, John McCain shouldn't even be brought into this conversation. Some are saying that he didn't investigate Palin enough, that he was unaware of the situation when he nominated Palin.
Seriously, listen to yourselves - you're telling me the REPUBLICAN PARTY - who basically invented political spying - didn't dig deep enough into a candidate's personal life? Please. They knew. They probably know what brand of underwear was tossed on the floor on the prom night in which Bristol got into this situation. Why didn't McCain release this information when he nominated Palin? Well, I'd imagine it's because the last menstrual period of Bristol Palin was simply not germane to the conversation when he announced her mother as his running mate. I would frankly be more upset if McCain decided that he should disclose this situation to the media instead of Palin.
Second, I have a problem with the raising eyebrows that imply that Palin's home situation has anything to do with the performance she may give as the Vice President of the United States. I know it sounds a little - gasp...Feminist - of me to note, but I dare say that if Sarah Palin's husband were the VP, this would not have been such a big story. When John Edwards - a PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE - acknowledged he had an extramarital affair, it was barely a flash in the pan on the national radar. I think US Weekly covered it more than the Today show. When Al Gore's son was caught drunk-driving, we laughed about it. I dare say that if Gore's son were to get a girl pregnant, it wouldn't have even crossed the news media's minds to harp on the story for 24 straight hours. Yet Sarah Palin's daughter does what lots of kids do every Friday and Saturday night, and people question her ability to parent and lead a country. Tell me, do you even know Cheney's or Gore's daughters names? I don't either. That's my point. Palin's kids shouldn't even be of our concern, and to suggest otherwise is both sexist and insulting.
Yes, it is interesting to note that Sarah Palin is an advocate of abstinence-only sex education in schools. But Bristol looks like a smart cookie, and something tells me that even if she didn't get that education in school, she got it somewhere. She knew that 75 cents of latex is a fantastic investment. Did she choose to heed this advice? I don't know. I wasn't there. The reality is that kids - of all political persuasions - are interested in the opposite sex. A lot of us were having sex at the age of 17, and all of us, no matter what our age or marital status, engage in such activities knowing full well that there is a chance that we can get pregnant. Condoms fail, pills might be ineffective, and even sterilization isn't completely 100%. Unplanned pregnancy happens at all ages and in all types of situations. Even when married, it's tough to deal with, and for us to judge is unfair. I shudder to think what would have happened if she had chosen to end the pregnancy, as Bristol might have been subject to even harsher scrutiny. I'm vehemently pro-choice and while I can't imagine what would have happened if I were in that situation at 17, I think that everyone involved made the decision that was best for themselves.
So really, back off this kid. Even Obama said so.
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label politics. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
The Housing Crisis, explained by NPR
Many of you may have read my own little commentary on the housing crisis, addressed from the lowest - and most impactful - level: that of the consumer.
I subscribe to, among many things, This American Life, a podcast that gives you episodes of NPR's outstanding program of the same name. I've been a little behind on recent episodes, and today I listened to one from May 9. It may sound boring to a lot of you, but it's the best one-hour summary I have EVER heard on an economic topic. The episode breaks down - in striking and scary detail - exactly how this crisis occurred. I believe this should be a required lecture for all business students - scratch that - ALL students.
While I still believe that the burden comes down to the borrower in assessing whether or not they can afford a mortgage, I learned a lot from it - specifically, why sub-prime loans were suddenly approved in the early to mid-2000's.
Spend an hour listening to it and you'll think of your finances a lot differently.
Check it out here.
I subscribe to, among many things, This American Life, a podcast that gives you episodes of NPR's outstanding program of the same name. I've been a little behind on recent episodes, and today I listened to one from May 9. It may sound boring to a lot of you, but it's the best one-hour summary I have EVER heard on an economic topic. The episode breaks down - in striking and scary detail - exactly how this crisis occurred. I believe this should be a required lecture for all business students - scratch that - ALL students.
While I still believe that the burden comes down to the borrower in assessing whether or not they can afford a mortgage, I learned a lot from it - specifically, why sub-prime loans were suddenly approved in the early to mid-2000's.
Spend an hour listening to it and you'll think of your finances a lot differently.
Check it out here.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Pennsylvania Primary. Madness.
The Pennsylvania Primary was today. I voted. For Hillary.
Yes, I changed my party affiliation to Democrat (PA is a closed-primary state)...for a couple reasons.
1. John McCain was the obvious and at this point, uncontested Republican Nominee. That's assured.
2. I wanted to vote in a Primary. Never done it before.
3. In Pennsylvania, a heavily blue state, you are far more likely to have your vote heard (statistically at least) by voting in the Democratic Primary. The Republican party places a RINO (runs-in-name-only) candidate in the Philly mayor's race not because they ever dream they can win, but so they can test campaign managers and workers to see how they can maximize funding.
4. I considered picking whichever candidate would have a better chance of losing against the Republican party. But honestly, I want it to be a GOOD race. One in which I'd have the hardest time picking that lever in November. Since Hillary has an honest-to-God, workable plan to insure every American, I want her to at least have the chance to present it.
5. Obama is an admirable man, I know. But I haven't heard anything that makes me say "I think you can do it". Yes, I'm reminded of JFK when I hear him speak. He's got great oratory skills. But - and I hate to speak ill of the dead - had he not been assassinated and followed by the resignation of Nixon, John F Kennedy might very well have gone down as one of the worst presidents in history. He got us into the Cuban Missile Crisis and led us right up to Vietnam. I don't know if I trust the song-and-dance when I don't see the substance.
So I voted for Hillary. And she won, by 10 percentage points. It's going to be interesting.
I never thought I'd ever say that - I'm a conservative by nature, I want the government out of my life and I hate when I feel like a party or candidate implies that they "know better" than me about how my life should be run. I'm actually more of a Libertarian than a Republican.
That being said, John McCain - this is for you. I am not a sure vote. You need to show me - no matter who your opponent may be - that you want it. Tell me about what YOU'RE going to change. I'm not in the mood for another eight years of defending the party for which I voted and still believe in. I need you to show me what you are going to do that's NOT going to be a repeat of what we've had. I've sent a boyfriend to Iraq and lost him - I'm sure you know, while he came back, HE didn't come back - not the one I knew. I've on the edge of being uninsured and am paying a TON of money for COBRA coverage that ends when whoever wins is sworn in. Worse, six million children - who didn't ask to be born into this - are currently without health care coverage in the nation which can afford it better than anyone else. I need to know what you think, and more importantly, what you'll do. I'm not a sure vote for anyone.
Just so you know.
Yes, I changed my party affiliation to Democrat (PA is a closed-primary state)...for a couple reasons.
1. John McCain was the obvious and at this point, uncontested Republican Nominee. That's assured.
2. I wanted to vote in a Primary. Never done it before.
3. In Pennsylvania, a heavily blue state, you are far more likely to have your vote heard (statistically at least) by voting in the Democratic Primary. The Republican party places a RINO (runs-in-name-only) candidate in the Philly mayor's race not because they ever dream they can win, but so they can test campaign managers and workers to see how they can maximize funding.
4. I considered picking whichever candidate would have a better chance of losing against the Republican party. But honestly, I want it to be a GOOD race. One in which I'd have the hardest time picking that lever in November. Since Hillary has an honest-to-God, workable plan to insure every American, I want her to at least have the chance to present it.
5. Obama is an admirable man, I know. But I haven't heard anything that makes me say "I think you can do it". Yes, I'm reminded of JFK when I hear him speak. He's got great oratory skills. But - and I hate to speak ill of the dead - had he not been assassinated and followed by the resignation of Nixon, John F Kennedy might very well have gone down as one of the worst presidents in history. He got us into the Cuban Missile Crisis and led us right up to Vietnam. I don't know if I trust the song-and-dance when I don't see the substance.
So I voted for Hillary. And she won, by 10 percentage points. It's going to be interesting.
I never thought I'd ever say that - I'm a conservative by nature, I want the government out of my life and I hate when I feel like a party or candidate implies that they "know better" than me about how my life should be run. I'm actually more of a Libertarian than a Republican.
That being said, John McCain - this is for you. I am not a sure vote. You need to show me - no matter who your opponent may be - that you want it. Tell me about what YOU'RE going to change. I'm not in the mood for another eight years of defending the party for which I voted and still believe in. I need you to show me what you are going to do that's NOT going to be a repeat of what we've had. I've sent a boyfriend to Iraq and lost him - I'm sure you know, while he came back, HE didn't come back - not the one I knew. I've on the edge of being uninsured and am paying a TON of money for COBRA coverage that ends when whoever wins is sworn in. Worse, six million children - who didn't ask to be born into this - are currently without health care coverage in the nation which can afford it better than anyone else. I need to know what you think, and more importantly, what you'll do. I'm not a sure vote for anyone.
Just so you know.
Election Marketing is interrupting my workday.
To the campaign workers of Quinata Johnson:
I haven't voted yet. If you don't move your car - with loudspeakers attached, blaring old music and "VOTE QUINATA JOHNSON" at crazy decibel levels - from directly outside my home, I will vote for whoever is running against Ms Johnson.
I haven't voted yet. If you don't move your car - with loudspeakers attached, blaring old music and "VOTE QUINATA JOHNSON" at crazy decibel levels - from directly outside my home, I will vote for whoever is running against Ms Johnson.
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Housing Crisis is B.S., created by the media for election drama.
If you live in Pennsylvania and are registered to vote, chances are you've had about ten bajillion candidates for every office known to man contact you in recent weeks to secure your vote in the primary this coming Wednesday. While I truly believe in the crazy democracy that our founding fathers laid down a few hundred years ago mere blocks from my house, it's a little insane. The kooks have come out of the freaking woodwork, all sudden experts on what this country needs. I've had every snot-nosed art school brat in Philadelphia shoving an Obama button in my face, crackheads blathering about politics at high decibel levels at 4 am outside my window and old men interrupting my sit-on-the-stoop-and-enjoy-spring-fever break by to striking up political conversations. I've made my national television debut while running in a background shot of Independence Mall. Yep, I'm the scrawny white girl in the Georgia T-shirt clearly sucking wind because I'm way out of shape.
Anyone else sick of this yet? I am. Have the election already and pack your news trucks up to move onto the latest hometown of the newest missing pregnant woman whose name probably ends in -acy Peterson.
Not that I don't believe in the process - I really do. I'm just sick of the focus on issues that are no more relevant to the candidate for President or City Dog Catcher than the price of tea in China. Do we care that there's 6 million uninsured children? Nope. Does the media focus on the fact that things that we actually have the wherewithall and ability to solve? Nah. Are we even paying attention to the War, which is what people had been thinking about only months ago? No. We're focusing on random pie-in-the-sky ideals that have no substance (which I won't even touch right now) and...THE HOUSING CRISIS.
CRISIS. Such a big scary word.
First things first. This isn't a "crisis". Cuban Missiles were a crisis. Nuclear warheads parked with a cocked hair-trigger 90 miles away - THAT'S a crisis. The housing market is not in a crisis.
Secondly - and this is big - rest assured, God-fearing citizens. Milton Friedman may be dead, but his teachings are alive and kicking and don't even require all that much except common sense in this point. I don't care what the interest rates are, what CEO at Countrywide is being arrested for whatever transgressions he's committed, or what party is in office - NO BANK is going around snatching houses away from people for no good reason. Banks foreclose for one reason and one reason only. It's simple:
YOU WON'T GET FORECLOSED UPON IF YOU PAY YOUR MORTGAGE.
It's that simple. If you write that check every month, you will stay in your home. The bank has actually no interest (pardon the pun) in "stealing" your house. They'd rather have your money. If you're on a fixed-rate mortgage and work in some state job that you have no hope of ever being fired from, I congratulate you. Keep that bitch on auto-pay and keep working.
If you're not, however, I give you my very minimal advice. I'm not a homeowner, hell, I'm barely making rent, I'm self-employed. I understand that when money gets tight, you gotta cut corners. But really. It's not that hard.
1. Rainy-day fund. Dad tells you to have it, some of us are smart enough to save it. Shit. I haven't done it either. But I also didn't sign a zillion-page document accepting a loan of a quarter-million dollars or more. If you want that house, make sure you can write that damn check every month, even when you finally get your ass fired for surfing myspace during the workday.
2. READ the fine print on what you sign. I find it amazing that people throw fits in the liquor store when they have to give their zip code to buy their cheap $7 wine, citing privacy laws that don't even exist, yet they spend four minutes reviewing a document that is going to affect their income and wealth for the next thirty or more years. That adjustable rate mortgage? Yeah, they ain't kidding. They'll raise it. And they'll charge you more if you want to get out early. And there's probably points on the back end. Don't like those terms? BACK OUT OF THE DEAL. NOW. The loan officer is not your friend, he is making money off of you.
3. DO NOT buy more of ANYTHING than you can afford. Period. Including a house. If you've got ten brats running around and you work at Wendy's, you can't afford a 12-bedroom house. It is NOT child abuse for your kid to share a room, and you will not die if you don't have stainless steel appliances, an in-ground pool and a three-car garage. I shared a bedroom with my sister for the better part of ten years. It was fun, it was like a slumber party every night. Never once did I bitch about it, chances are your kids won't either. Okay, so we drew a line down the room once or twice, but whatever. I'd be a whole lot crankier if I had to clean out my room because we were getting foreclosed on.
4. You don't OWN your job, and you are not entitled to a job. Nowhere during those summer meetings over at 5th and Chestnut did the founding fathers sign anything giving you life, liberty and a cushy secure job with a pension and a gold watch. I got news for you - if you are depending on certain pensions for your nest egg, you're in for a rude awakening. Especially if you have a union job and/or work in manufacturing. You're cheaper in China. Solution? Figure out another career path. Sound scary? Yes, but so is foreclosure. I'm guessing that typewriter repairmen could go on and ON about how their jobs have gone to computers, but they won't...because they're either in new computer jobs or they're in school to get a better set of marketable skills. Find out what you CAN do for a paycheck to pay that mortgage and go after it.
5. Finally, if you get into a pinch - and I mean where you're already DEEP IN the throes of Operation Bootstrap - call your bank. BEFORE that six month past due notice comes. When you're going to be a day late, call them. Work something out. Trust me, they WANT your money, no matter what you can pay. You're better off copping up to it and even saying "look, I love shoes, okay? And Junior can't accept wearing non-designer shit." The bottom line is that you gotta own up to it and figure out a way OUT of it so that you can prevent the situation in the future.
Now that you've all sat through my Economics lesson, feel free to go buy artwork and keep me paying my own rent.
And go vote on Tuesday based on real issues, because no candidate for any office can make it so that we don't have to pay a mortgage. At the least, go vote so these CNN trucks can get the hell off my running route.
Anyone else sick of this yet? I am. Have the election already and pack your news trucks up to move onto the latest hometown of the newest missing pregnant woman whose name probably ends in -acy Peterson.
Not that I don't believe in the process - I really do. I'm just sick of the focus on issues that are no more relevant to the candidate for President or City Dog Catcher than the price of tea in China. Do we care that there's 6 million uninsured children? Nope. Does the media focus on the fact that things that we actually have the wherewithall and ability to solve? Nah. Are we even paying attention to the War, which is what people had been thinking about only months ago? No. We're focusing on random pie-in-the-sky ideals that have no substance (which I won't even touch right now) and...THE HOUSING CRISIS.
CRISIS. Such a big scary word.
First things first. This isn't a "crisis". Cuban Missiles were a crisis. Nuclear warheads parked with a cocked hair-trigger 90 miles away - THAT'S a crisis. The housing market is not in a crisis.
Secondly - and this is big - rest assured, God-fearing citizens. Milton Friedman may be dead, but his teachings are alive and kicking and don't even require all that much except common sense in this point. I don't care what the interest rates are, what CEO at Countrywide is being arrested for whatever transgressions he's committed, or what party is in office - NO BANK is going around snatching houses away from people for no good reason. Banks foreclose for one reason and one reason only. It's simple:
YOU WON'T GET FORECLOSED UPON IF YOU PAY YOUR MORTGAGE.
It's that simple. If you write that check every month, you will stay in your home. The bank has actually no interest (pardon the pun) in "stealing" your house. They'd rather have your money. If you're on a fixed-rate mortgage and work in some state job that you have no hope of ever being fired from, I congratulate you. Keep that bitch on auto-pay and keep working.
If you're not, however, I give you my very minimal advice. I'm not a homeowner, hell, I'm barely making rent, I'm self-employed. I understand that when money gets tight, you gotta cut corners. But really. It's not that hard.
1. Rainy-day fund. Dad tells you to have it, some of us are smart enough to save it. Shit. I haven't done it either. But I also didn't sign a zillion-page document accepting a loan of a quarter-million dollars or more. If you want that house, make sure you can write that damn check every month, even when you finally get your ass fired for surfing myspace during the workday.
2. READ the fine print on what you sign. I find it amazing that people throw fits in the liquor store when they have to give their zip code to buy their cheap $7 wine, citing privacy laws that don't even exist, yet they spend four minutes reviewing a document that is going to affect their income and wealth for the next thirty or more years. That adjustable rate mortgage? Yeah, they ain't kidding. They'll raise it. And they'll charge you more if you want to get out early. And there's probably points on the back end. Don't like those terms? BACK OUT OF THE DEAL. NOW. The loan officer is not your friend, he is making money off of you.
3. DO NOT buy more of ANYTHING than you can afford. Period. Including a house. If you've got ten brats running around and you work at Wendy's, you can't afford a 12-bedroom house. It is NOT child abuse for your kid to share a room, and you will not die if you don't have stainless steel appliances, an in-ground pool and a three-car garage. I shared a bedroom with my sister for the better part of ten years. It was fun, it was like a slumber party every night. Never once did I bitch about it, chances are your kids won't either. Okay, so we drew a line down the room once or twice, but whatever. I'd be a whole lot crankier if I had to clean out my room because we were getting foreclosed on.
4. You don't OWN your job, and you are not entitled to a job. Nowhere during those summer meetings over at 5th and Chestnut did the founding fathers sign anything giving you life, liberty and a cushy secure job with a pension and a gold watch. I got news for you - if you are depending on certain pensions for your nest egg, you're in for a rude awakening. Especially if you have a union job and/or work in manufacturing. You're cheaper in China. Solution? Figure out another career path. Sound scary? Yes, but so is foreclosure. I'm guessing that typewriter repairmen could go on and ON about how their jobs have gone to computers, but they won't...because they're either in new computer jobs or they're in school to get a better set of marketable skills. Find out what you CAN do for a paycheck to pay that mortgage and go after it.
5. Finally, if you get into a pinch - and I mean where you're already DEEP IN the throes of Operation Bootstrap - call your bank. BEFORE that six month past due notice comes. When you're going to be a day late, call them. Work something out. Trust me, they WANT your money, no matter what you can pay. You're better off copping up to it and even saying "look, I love shoes, okay? And Junior can't accept wearing non-designer shit." The bottom line is that you gotta own up to it and figure out a way OUT of it so that you can prevent the situation in the future.
Now that you've all sat through my Economics lesson, feel free to go buy artwork and keep me paying my own rent.
And go vote on Tuesday based on real issues, because no candidate for any office can make it so that we don't have to pay a mortgage. At the least, go vote so these CNN trucks can get the hell off my running route.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
