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[Post-blog edit: I only got through one issue today. And I guess I had a lot of thoughts on it, so only the economy for today.]

I detailed my thoughts on several issues relevant to the 2004 Presidential Campaign. At that time, I did a scorecard-ish tally of who I agreed with more, John Kerry or George Bush. The score was 7-3 Kerry (based on 10 total issues) and I think many of us agree that if the rest of the country had used my scorecard as part of the tools needed to inform voters, not so many people would think that the country is headed in the wrong direction (just kidding).

I’m not going to do a scorecard this time because I am firmly set on voting for Barack Obama…but that does not mean there are not major differences between my own personal views and that of Obama’s. There are. But I have fewer differences with Obama’s policies than I have with John McCain’s. [I'm not legitimately counting Bob Barr or Ralph Nader.]

According to NPR, the five biggest issues of the 2008 Presidential Election are the economy, Iraq, health care, climate change, and immigration. Debatable, but it’s a start.

The economy: I don’t really know how this sub-prime lending crap started. Hell, I don’t even know what sub-prime lending or predatory lending is. The only time I’ve ever heard the word ‘predatory’ used is in a Discovery Channel show or in a rape case.

That being said, the basic issue is how to most effectively utilize the government in order for the free market to function in a fair and equitable manner. McCain believes that ‘the fundamentals of the economy are strong’ and thus does not wish for more than minimal market regulation at this time. I do not believe his views but I am sure data could prove me right or wrong no matter how the coin is flipped.

Seeing as the free market has left many people in a position where their wages are not keeping up with living expenses, I’d say it’s time for some government help. Get people off of welfare and give them jobs with minimum wage being living wage. The government could contract a non-profit or non-partisan group to do the calculations on that. The money saved by getting people off of welfare could be used to assist small businesses with the proposed wage increases. Small businesses will need help with salary increases, health care costs, etc., and the government should provide that for them in a reasonable manner.

And even though his victory will result in some of our parents paying higher taxes, I agree with Obama that those who can afford to help have an obligation to those who can’t. Haters call it socialism/communism. I call it justice.

My brother and a labmate both independently brought up an interesting point that during the Eisenhower era, supposedly a darling period for this country, total taxes on people who made more than (I think) 1 or 5 million dollars…a lot in those days…was upwards of 90% (income + a previous form of capital gains + state taxes + other taxes).  Did this stifle innovation? No. Did this walk the economy into a deep recession? No.

I do not want people with higher incomes getting taxed 90%, but my point is that they can afford to be taxed more than they are being taxed right now…especially given their rates with the recent Bush tax cuts.

Innovation will not be stifled. As my brother said, even if tax rates are 75% or higher for those making a billion or more, those billionaires will be just as motivated to keep making that 25%. All people love money and no matter the government’s policies, the rich will find a way to get richer.

All in all, we need to lift from the bottom up, because prosperity should be universally attainable.

—

I just pray that the money the government rakes in is used to fund mass transit projects, rebuild our nation’s infrastructure (think the Federal Highway Act of 1950s…but remixed for the 21st century), aid small businesses, and most importantly, provide job programs for those that need it the most.

If all that is accomplished, then we will have the formula for how to balance government intervention with the workings of capitalism.

1. This video is simply awesome. You’ve seen the ‘Indian Michael Jackson’ before. This is the finals (his bigger friend has surprising flexibility…3:30 is definitely a wtf…)…
Skip the sappy story and head straight to the dancing (starting at 1:30):
http://youtube.com/watch?v=oAmMe1ywIAI

2. Hillary’s absolutely terrible primary planning beat her. Not Obama. Not sexism. But her planning. Any objective observer can see that. So for all the Clinton supporters…great race. You’ve definitely helped the Democratic party by exposing Obama’s weaknesses now rather than later on in the general election when the weaknesses would be a greater blow to Obama’s chances of being elected. Obama supporters can only hope that you will join the Obama camp and unite in order to defeat John McBush. If Clinton is the VP, all the better…knowledgeable, smart, knows the Washington ‘game’, etc.

For all the Ferraro-like Sexism Clinton Crybabies…just shut up. It really boils my blood how Hillary and her most biased supporters can kick and scream about the media…sexism…bla bla bla bla bla…but when your entire strategy is based on a knockout in the early rounds (Super Tuesday - Feb. 5) rather than a punch-by-punch defeat…you deserve to lose.

3. I’m reading Obama’s “Audacity of Hope” and man, he’s quite the angry liberal. If, as he says, his book gives you an insight into his thinking process (he wrote the entire book himself…no ‘ghostwriters’…), then, for better or worse, he’s gonna unleash some liberal policies once in office. Higher taxes. More government regulation of environmental regulations. Good job covering his true liberal identity in the primaries…

I have a feeling if more people read his book, they’d get the idea that he’s a brilliant thinker, a smooth writer, and a liberal policy wonk.

4. The Boston Celtics are in the freakin’ NBA Finals. Awesome. I’m just afraid that the NBA is slowly becoming like the MLB, where you can buy championships and teams like the Supersonics, Bucks, or Grizzlies will rarely be able to compete for a title. The Celtics have all the pieces in place for a title. You can bet the Pierce and Garnett bring their A-Game. The keys are getting productive minutes out of Kendrick Perkins and having Rondo run the offense efficiently for 35-40 minutes a game. If those two vital components come through, then the Celts can let Kobe go haywire (btw, who’s going to defend Kobe…no one has the size nor foot speed to match up with him…) and not really worry.

5. I love my girlfriend. A lot.

6. My month of paradise is over. May. Going to Boston for the Grahant Shanti Poojan. Shrenik’s 5-day wedding. UPenn Commencement…seeing Bloomberg speak. Shrenik’s Medical School Graduation/Boston Wedding Reception. Other fun travels. One of the best months ever.

7. The radio sucks. “Get Silly…” and “Lollipop…” I always wonder. Who listens to this shit? I mean, I’m forced to listen to it but it’s not like I’m enjoying it. We’re being assaulted by bad music. The Get Silly song is produced by repeated vocals of ‘G…Ge…Get Silly’ and someone playing the keyboard setting, ”1.9% APR Financing!!! 48 Months!!!’ Keyboard Hit”

8. Not having regrets and loving every minute of it.

9. I still suck in the lab!

10. The guy who created Pringles died, his body cremated, and ashes put into…a Pringles can. Wow. Hilarious.

11. I’ve never had 11 bullet points before.

12. Saw Ironman this past weekend. Pretty good. I’d recommend it. Worth watching in the theater…not a $9.50 movie, but more like a student discount or matinee price movie.

13. I sort of set off a firestorm with the Biology Student-Faculty basketball game. There have been at least 35 e-mails trying to plan some sort of event to defeat the Faculty at. Maybe I wrote about this before, but it’s still entertaining…plans in the works as we speak.

14. Trying to live each day as if it’s your last has drawbacks and benefits. Drawbacks include the fact that you might be stressing yourself out by thinking, ‘Oh, this might be my last day,’ thus decreasing your mental health and lifespan. Benefits include the fact that your friends and family feel appreciated and that you’re able to dream big…and do big…

15. My new shoes (in yellow): http://www.buzzillions.com/dz_386219_mens_saucony_grid_fusion_reviews

-Hope you’re all breathing easy and having a great day…