My Solution

Thank God the bailout failed. Yes, I believe they need to come up with something, but buying all the bad mortgage backed securities from the banks only transfers the problem from one entity- the banks, to another- the government. All the $700 billion would do is guarantee that we have to continue poring money into an inexhaustible situation. The extremely tricky question is, where in this situation is the most help needed? I would love to say that we could help homeowners out, but we can't. The reason that won't work is the crumbling mortgage market is beginning to negatively effect all homeowners. If you decide to bail out individuals who can't pay their mortgages, where do you draw the line? Do you help all homeowners who have lost money on their initial investment? And more importantly, as responsible homeowners see the government help those who defaulted on their loans, what stops them from stopping their own mortgage payments so that they receive government aid too? Anyone with a mortgage has the potential to owe more money than the property is worth. Do we help them too?
So, we come back to Wall Street and our only choice is to let the crap securities stay where they are and open a line of credit to the banks. If it's credit they need to get business done (business which includes lending money to companies so that they can write our payroll checks and conduct their daily business), then We the People can lend. Lending implies a return. It is not a bailout if we make money available to borrow. Consider it a giant student loan. Most of these guys probably didn't have student loans so it would be mandatory for them to attend a class where the gravity of borrowing someone else's money is fully explained to them. Also explained in this class is how important repaying your loan is and that if you fail to pay the government back, your wages can and will be garnished (thank God they all make far more money than your average graduate paying back loans). We get them on a payment plan and we'll have the money returned with interest. We could even throw in some hidden fees, over-limit fees, cash advance fees, late payment fees, and your basic "We Gotcha Cornered- Umbrella Fee" for anything the agreement didn't previously cover, but that we thought up after the fact!
I love Karma!

Laugh your a$% off, I did!

Boy, do we need to laugh these days and this one helped! In case you missed Governor Sarah Palin's interview with Katie Couric, what this instead!!

Drum Roll Please!!!

Jodi Beck (that's me!)will be appearing at the World Famous Cabaret space Don’t Tell Mama’s in the heart of NYC's theatre district for a limited engagement!!!

Tickets are not yet available (don't worry I'll let you know when they are!), but the space and times are reserved! It will be Saturday November 22 at 6pm and Sunday November 23 at 3pm!!

Can you tell I'm excited!!!!

Happy Birthday Jenny!!

Don't worry- this won't hurt a bit. You're just a year older!

Yeah, we're weird!
I hope you have a fabulous birthday! I love you! And by the way, I was going to put up other pictures but these were the only ones I found that were already on my computer!

A Change

This is my favorite time of year. I love that when it gets colder I have to wear layers- we all look good in layers. I love being reminded during the fall that we are on a cycle, that we will once again see everything go to sleep only to be awakened fresh and new in the spring. I thought to myself on my way home as I was basically running through the rain without an umbrella, "Am I happy?" And my answer was yes. And then I asked myself, "Am I satisfied?" And my answer was no. I slowed my pace at that point and allowed myself to realize that although the world around me might be scarier than it had been before, the sun will continue to rise and set whether I worry about it or not.
I am happy and unsatisfied. That made me laugh. And as I turned the corner of my street I followed behind two older people with plastic grocery bags on their heads and I laughed out loud. If there is something, anything to smile about, allow yourself that. And if you want to laugh out loud- do it.

When You Have to Do Something!

Make phone calls!! And make them now!!!
Call the Obama campaign, the McCain campaign, the Commission on Presidential Debates, and the University of Mississippi to voice your support of the debates continuing as planned. We need to hear from these men on where they stand and where they plan to take this country. This is not a time to suspend campaigning when the election is becoming more important on a daily basis. Here are their numbers, and I have to tell you, I was a little nervous to call the University of Mississippi's Public relations department, but they were sooooooooo nice! And the woman I spoke to said thank you to me for calling twice and said that was exactly what they needed to hear today. This will take only minutes of your time!

Obama Campaign: 866-675-2008 (I had a little difficulty getting through on the line, but you can visit the website www.barackobama.com and email them through the contact us link under the Action tab.

McCain Campaign: (703) 418-2008 (The voicemail box is full) Their website is www.johnmccain.com

Commission on Presidential Debates: (202) 872-1020 I got an answering machine and just left a short message.

University of Mississippi: (662) 915-7211 The first woman I spoke to, Dorothy, thanked me and then connected me to the head of Public Relations (I missed her name) who was even nicer than Dorothy!

Great Quote!

"For years now, they've told us that we can't afford—that the government providing health care to all people is just unimaginable; it can't be done. We don't have the money to rebuild our infrastructure. We don't have the money to wipe out poverty. We can't do it. But all of a sudden, yeah, we do have $700 billion for a bailout of Wall Street."—Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont).

CANDY!!!

Don't think we're gonna have much to give out come Halloween time, but I thought this was an interesting metaphor. I caught this on another blog. I'm assuming Rachel is a pundit on MSNBC and not a reporter, therefore the obvious bias (she only interviews an Obama supporter.)
George Bush says, "We must join to move urgently needed legislation as quickly as possible. Without adding controversial provisions that could delay action." Sound familiar???

Au Revoir Laissez-Faire

So much for the party of less regulation, less government. It looks like the Republicans are changing their tune. Funny how the party of the "average Joe" is now asking Joe to foot the bill for their true constituents who lobbied the government for less regulation so they could make more money by doing riskier and riskier things. Oh and John McCain has proposed a new Federal agency, the MFI (Mortgage and Financial Institutions Trust). I'm not sure how tax cuts pay for this, but I'm sure they will explain it to us. Ever wonder what happens to a government that continually borrows more money than it could possibly pay back using its people as collateral? For more information on the SEC and their lack of oversight, listen to This American Life's show titled The Enforcers. The section is titled, Act Two. Now You SEC Me, Now You Don't. Incompetence begets incompetence. Greed begets greed. And as for the new song they are playing: You can put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig!!!!

How to Win

Ignore the game that your opponents want to play with you. Start a game that you can be proud of and one if your opponents decided to play they would decidedly lose. Moral, Wise, and Presidential.

"The Other Side"

My brother Jim is blogging again.
I told him that I would ask my readers to check it out. As I was thinking about how to tell all of you to read his blog, I realized that he needed a trailer. I thought of Poltergeist II and I thought that Carol Anne said, "He's back," but she doesn't. She says, "They're back." Either way, I think the following trailer is a brilliant warning label to my readers that you enter the world of "The View from the Right Side" at your own risk. Jim often makes very rational educated arguments, and he doesn't back down. If you feel that you might have to start taking blood pressure medication to read it, I have this to say to you, "Carol Anne- listen to me. Do NOT go into the light. Stop where you are. Turn away from it. Don't even look at it."

Ten on Tuesday- Old photos edition!

1. I have some pictures on my camera from a while ago that I wanted to share. This is Jonathan from my Dad's birthday in May.

2. Christopher from Dad's birthday!

3. Joshua- he looks like a giant baby from the perspective- I really don't see these little guys enough.

4. Random guy walking the streets in Chelsea wearing only purple underwear and two braids- question is: Did he actually walk into a store like that to pick up whatever is in the bag, or are those his clothes?

5. Me and Alex hanging at Pat O'Connelly's before he left for his show.

6. Me, Mere, and our new friend Wes. Mere and I were trying to look as young as Wes. Yep, we pulled it off!

7. Caribbean Carnival- Labor Day 08. The costumes are awesome. The food is so good and the music is pumping. Basically, a great way to spend the unofficial last day of summer!

8. Stilts- sooo cool- this guy was enormous!

9. More cool floats- these are on wheels that attach to someone's body and they carry it on themselves for the length of the parade.

10. I've never taken a video with my camera before, but I wanted you to get a sense of the parade. This was one of the coolest costumes!

Moving on

So, I took the bus home the other night and as we passed the Catholic church two women on the bus crossed themselves. And then, tonight when I was walking home past that same Catholic church a man walked past me and crossed himself. Two thoughts on this: One, I must have missed that day at PSR (Parish Student Religion- Catechism) where they taught that you cross yourself when in the presence of the church. And two, thank God I was by the church in both instances when this happened, otherwise I might think that I have two horns on my head that only Catholics can see!

Couldn't Have Said It Better Myself...

So, I won't. First, Jon Stewart:
**Programming note: I tried to only include the clip Hypocrisy Now, but it was removed from youtube. So, you have to watch the whole Daily Show Episode but that's okay because it will make you laugh.**

Second, Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Sarah Palin:
"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents," Sarah and Todd Palin said in the brief statement.
Obviously, Governor Palin is pro-choice?