Election Marathon Nears Finish Line - Who's Tired?

I can now officially count down the days on one hand until we have a new president-elect. I have my thoughts on who will win, but when this is all said and done, what will we all do next? It seems that we have a perpetual election day IV stuck in our arm and its been pumping toxins for two years. McCain and Obama have been campaigning for two years, which is half of the total time they will spend in office. This is starting to feel like a bunch of Christmas mornings rolled into one with the post-election detox being the ultimate let down.

I give people a lot of credit for becoming motivated and inspired to get so involved in politics this year. Their passion is without question. However, at the end of the day, regardless of who is elected, there will not be overnight change or very little change a year from now. I'm not trying to be a cynicist, but a realist. We live in a world of instant gratification and there is no way that our financial, educational and health care problems will be solved by electing one new person. What Obama symbolizes (in victory or defeat) is that politics will never again be the same.

I watched his $5 million infomercial last night and you can't help but get a few chills. Not because I have faith in his policies, but because he's done something totally new. He has mobilized an enormous sector of Americans. If you look at McCain vs. Obama, they are the epitome of new verses old. McCain is accustomed to politics the old way and hasn't wavered from that. Obama has turned politics on its ear and given those who have given up on the system that helps them and hurts them a little bit of hope.

I hope that when the dust settles, the votes are counted and the world moves on from this marathon of an election that that hope and passion doesn't burn out. We are at a true crossroads. I hope our will is strong enough to carry us.

Reflecting on a Year of Huge Change

Today I am officially 29 and hanging on to the last year of my twenties by the bottom rung. I typically don't reflect too much on my birthday but I experienced such massive amounts of joy, sadness and change this year, that will likely never be paralleled.

Last year around this time I had left my horrific and corrupt job at the Victor Central School District and began working at Element K which someone who turned out to be a very dear and important friend in my life (Megan). We had both come from horrible previous jobs and were looking fora fresh start. Not only did we find it in EK, but in each other. Although we were both forced to find other employment by early November, our experience at EK and the bonds of friendship were planted. While counting down our days at EK, Megan's father became quite sick and we talked daily about his progress and prognosis. For a good stroke of irony, Scott had just been discharged from the hospital with a serious Staph infection, and the following week I was hospitalized for a severe asthma attack which turned into bronchitis. Just days after I was discharged, Scott had a second Staph infection breakout. Needless to say, my 28th year had a very rough beginning.

Just days before Christmas I was offered a new job at Mindex Technologies while Megan went on to work at Eagle Productivity. And, the week before Christmas I found out I was going to be an Aunt! After much anticipation my sister-in-law and her husband were going to have their first child and it was ultimately determined that she was due the week of our wedding (August 30).

In the coming months, Megan's father Milton passed away. Hundreds of people attended his wake and just weeks later, Milt's next grandson was born, Ryan. In early February by beloved father turned 60 years old, which he never thought would happen. The celebration was quite moving.

After much frustration with her current employer, Megan came on board at Mindex and now we're right back to where we were nearly a year ago, working side by side - we couldn't be happier.

I have now learned that planning a wedding takes every square amount of energy out of you and brides do become a little unstable toward the end. After months of planning and anticipation, the birth of my nephew and my wedding went like clockwork. Baby Chase was born three weeks early on July 30 - a month to the day before our wedding. And something totally unexpected happened. Kelly, Joe and Chase were all able to be at our wedding. None of us thought that would have been possible.

And on August 30 I married the love of my life. I never thought I would find someone who truly completes me while accepting me unconditionally for the kook that I am. But somehow, in the depths of despair at the most corrupt job that I have ever had, I ended up meeting and falling in love with my current husband. So, on this first day of my 29th year, I am writing as Mrs. Hochreiter. I look back on our wedding often, despite it being only two months ago and think of all of the family and friends who traveled so far to be with us. I think part of me realizes that I will never have that many loved ones from all over the world in one room again. I hope I'm wrong.

Now I sit here at Mindex writing as Mrs. Hochreiter and Auntie Kara. A year ago, those possibilities were a small flicker in the distance. In closing just weeks ago I lost my cousin Devin Caccamise at the young age of 27. Devin's parents are very special people in my life and just weeks earlier were living it up at our wedding. I have no choice but to reflect on the joy and sadness that has carried me in the last year.

In the coming weeks we will elect either the first African American president or the first female vice president. We will likely see massive shifts in economic and social policy - changes that I have never seen in my lifetime. Let's see what 29 brings.

Parade of the Puppet Masters

Scott and I just returned from seeing W, Oliver Stone's interpretation of the W presidency. Although all of Mr. Stone's films are considered opinions, I whole-hearted agreed with his representation of W. I feel like Bush's entire upbringing, entitlement and disconnect with reality all bleed through when he emits his short-breathed laugh and that smug grin he seems to flash everyone he doesn't have an answer. Its like his face is telling us that 'yeah, he really doesn't know the answer and we all know he doesn't know the answer, so he's gonna grin about it for a while."

I like to believe I have no false pretenses about being born into wealth and privilege, however, eventually that privilege needs to be earned. Bush was the chronic screw up and it he weren't born into the Bush legacy he would be standing in the unemployment and welfare lines like thousands of Americans, rather than putting them there. So, I do have a problem with his delusion that because his last name is Bush that he's got a direct line to power and corruption. Honestly, I don't think he understands the inter workings of the layers of politics to understand how else he would actually become the leader of the free world.

What I do believe and Mr. Stone backs up my stance is that George Junior really was second. He lacked the focus and polished finish that Jeb has. Junior was the liability of the family, and because of those Achilles Heels, he gained power. But at the end of the day the plummet from grace is severe and ever-lasting.

Junior surrounded himself by the same puppet masters who drove George Senior into the first Gulf War had and axe to grind in their conference room of swollen and bruised egos. They knew Junior for decades before he became a public figure and in that time, pinpointed his strengths and weaknesses. Strength = he was able to hit the political temperature on the head, as well as knowing the right questions to ask the right people. His largest weakness of many is that although he asks the right questions, he allows his cohort of puppet masters to offer him completely fabricated or false answers to his important questions. Being that these cronies advised his father and he grew up in all of their shadows he would never cross. Therefore in his attempts for good-hearted policy, Junior becomes the puppet master's mouthpieces for their bruised egos and failed decisions on national security. This is what drove us into a false war, killed thousands of Americans and has caused a near collapse of a America, which was once referred to as a super power. Now its just a late night joke about a super screw up, an embarrassment that will last us long after W is released on DVD.

Joe the Plumber Must Be Sick of Himself

According to CNN, Joe the damn plumber was mentioned 26 times during last night's final presidential debate. I can just see reporters all over Ohio attempting to track down Joe and get his reaction to his fifteen minutes of fame.

Watching last night's debate was like watching a horrible car accident incredibly slowly. Obama is the one who hits and McCain is driving the little Kia Rio that gets crumpled. I really did have higher hopes for John last night and although he tried, between the excessive blinking, cheesy political jabs and beating the dead horse of Joe the damn plumber, it just didn't do it for me.

I felt like McCain couldn't decide what he wanted to be. For the first third of the debate, he was talking about Joe and adopting children and attempting to be a nice, soft-hearted guy. But, as the night went on his trademark scowl crept back across his face and he became more rigid. My favorite tag line of this entire thing is when he points his bony finger at the TV camera and says that he's the one for change. People don't generally flock to nursing homes to find out about change.

I'm not saying that Obama has sold me, but he's sold me more than McCain. He has a very calming way of explaining his position, in a step by step process to the end result. For him its more of the way he says it, not just what he says. I'm pretty sure that our country will be in shambles regardless of who we elect. If there were a quick solution for our educational, economic and health care problems out there, we hopefully would have done it. I don't think that putting either one of them at the helm is going to ultimately fix our many problems.

But, when those problems do attempt to be solved and the president must speak to the public about what and how this is being fixed, we are going to have to listen to someone. Not in what they say, but how they say it. Take our current presidential monkey - its impossible to actually hear what he has to say because he's so distracting. His Texan twang, total inability to pronounce and use the English language and humor that goes over like a fart in church. I saw a bit of that come out in Mr. McCain last night. And although I'm not thrilled with either candidate, I'm sold on which one I would rather listen to.

Mr. Monkey President States the Obvious: He's not the sharpest tool in the shed

Every morning I scour the online newspapers of Binghamton (my old haunt) and Rochester (my current haunt) and just hours before the final presidential debate, W comes out with 'breaking news' that the economy will rebound from its current state. First of all, what the hell else is he gonna say? "The economy will continue to spiral downward at lightening speed, all residents will be destitute and I'll be playing golf and riding horses in Texas, y'all?"

I have never had high expectations for Mr. President. When he was first elected I was in college and was more interested in the news coverage of the entire game show rather than the outcome. I lived in Ithaca at the time which shoots any Republican upon entry to their city (not that I can blame them with people like Bush at the helm). After Bush won/lost/won/lost the election I guess my thinking was that we were stuck with him and hopefully he would surround himself with people who were smarter than he. As we have seen, eight years has not brightened the dullest bulb in the White House. I imagine the fat cats that good old Bush surrounds himself with are having a good laugh at what a dud he is and they are loving that they can manipulate him enough to actually say what he says and do what he does.

Most current case and point is his remark about that economy. I do not like my intelligence insulted (I imagine I'm not the only one) and when Bush comes out with rose garden press conferences about how today is Wednesday or how the sky is blue, its more than a dad bit insulting. I thought that after eight years (sick as it sounds) that he would at least improve on his pronunciation, enunciation, and public speaking. I wonder if he doesn't care that he is the largest political joke and train wreck in American history or he really doesn't get it. Ignorance and stupidity are not mutually exclusive. So, thank you Mr. President for pointing out the fact that your bulb has not brightened. It's a lame duck just barely flickering and I can't wait for it to finally go out.

October Means Save The Ta Tas.

In the last decade or so, it has become fashionable to stand for something, whether it be awareness, a disease or equal rights. Somehow causes became fashionable and I believe we are all the better for it. But with any moral advertisement, comes the consciousness to act in a way that is worthy of that ribbon car magnet or those jeans on Fridays.

In the course of my life I have been closely touched by many breast cancer survivors. Even if some of these special women are no longer with us, they are still survivors. Their story touched someone and possibly inspire one more person to pause and say a little prayer for their health.

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so keep an eye out for all of the fun pink-ribbon themed goodies around town. Please take a moment to pick something up, remember those who have fought the good fight and have some fun with the pink. I've been told that pink is the new black. . . . it had to come from somewhere.

PS: If you are computer sleuth like me, Munchkin has an online program that allows you to design your own Breast Cancer Awareness Rubber Duck. You can pimp it out with various backgrounds, hair and clothes. Each time you forward your duck via email, Munchkin will donate five cents for each person who opens the email. You can also track where in the world your email forwards go as well as the amount of money your duck has raised. Check out my link and email a duck and raise a buck.

Fat Cats Owe Us More than a Pound of Flesh

I consider myself an interesting anomaly. I am 28 years old and I am currently on my third career change. In that, I have worked for a small company, large corporation, and now I work for both. My immediate employer is a small family-run business, however, my client is a multi-million dollar corporation with a marked worldwide presence. Therefore, I'm a little fish in a little pond that is being fed water from a large ocean.

That being said, I have a unique interest in the economic collapse occurring around us. I listen to candidates talk about tax breaks for large companies and then tax breaks for small companies and regardless of the outcome, it will directly effect either my employer or my client. I am one of a growing number of workers who operate through a filter which allows large companies to save hundreds of thousands of dollars on health insurance, benefits and salaries, while obtain a high quality of specialized work by contracting with smaller companies, such as my current employer. Not only do the large fish gain a cheaper work force, they know that the smaller companies they contract with are at their mercy, and in turn, get much better work performance across the board.

Which brings me to all of the Wall Street fat cats, a terminology I truly hate using, yet seems appropriate. I work for Main Street as well as Wall Street and at the end of the day, they are one in the same. Main Street and Wall Street provide the pulse for each other and they need each other in order to function or dysfunction.

I find it frustrating when politicians who move at the rate of an iceberg for virtually all legislative action some how find a way to fly into session and miraculously pound out the most significant and dangerous economic band aid of our time.

Election season + high unapproval ratings + angry voters with pitchforks = Progress.

Therefore, I find it angering, yet not surprising that we see companies like AIG spending $400,00+ on corporate retreats on the heals of this "progress." If the government is going to step in in the face of total economic collapse and Wall Street is going to bite the hand that feeds them and slap the American taxpayers in the meantime, Wall Street deserves to crash and burn. The taxpayers have already crashed and burned without a retreat.

-sb

The Blue State Blues

I've been watching all of the presidential and the lone vice presidential debate with great care. However, I've come to realize that at the end of the day my vote for president means absolutely nothing. I am a staunch independent, which (for me) means that I attempt to look issues, candidates and what their decisions mean for my future and the future of my family. What I've concluded is that the only person who can control that future is me. Not evil candidate A or B.

When I do vote, it will be an informed vote, however, it will be a wasted vote. Here's why. . . living in New York or any notoriously liberal state has come to mean that candidates devote no money, time or resources to earmarking votes for our state because the outcome is pretty much pre-determined. When was the last time there was a Republican presidential event in New York, California or Illinois? But, candidates make damn sure they are touting Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Colorado every chance they get.

Although I'm spending time and effort examining the current state that we are in as a state, country and world, its pre-determined that my state's electoral votes are already (and always) thrown in the blue column without a second thought. New York is a guarantee.

So, at the end of the day the fate of the future of our country and its place in the world is being driven by the "golden states" - Nevada, Colorado, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and Missouri. I'm not sure this kind of election selection is safe. . . or really enforces the ideal of "every vote counts."

-sb