Election 2012

I tried to stay out of the political arguments for this time around since it seems as though most people can't have political discussions without getting offended. In my business, most are republicans and incredibly conservative and to offend them would be cutting my own throat. But since this was the biggest election in let's say--four years, I feel the need so bare with me.

Congratulations Barack! I'm still hopeful and I'm still giving you the benefit of doubt. I spend my days on the water with about 200 to 220 clients a year. I remember before the first election how scared people were. I particularly remember how scared they were with all the news from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and how that was going to fuck up the entire country. (That was well before Obama.) I also remember how people were saying before Obama was elected that we were going to be driven further into a depression and how we were certainly going to be thrust into WWIII. Our health care system was going to collapse and unemployment was going to be at least 20%. Well...

Here's the deal. The economy was looking pretty bleak but I don't know too many people that can say the are worse off now than they were four years ago. I also see fewer of our troops being deployed over-seas and although I really hope everyone out there finds a job soon, unemployment is down. My business has increased every year since Obama took office, which there are a lot of variables to that but I'm definitely better off. The growth/recovery isn't where some people wanted it but it is getting better and I firmly believe if we hadn't spent the money on bail-outs, (which was started by Bush,) we would be much worse off. My point is, is that dooms dayers need to relax a little and we all need to take a breath now and figure out how we can help make things better for ourselves instead of blaming everything on a guy that had the balls to put himself out there and take on the most challenging job in the world.

I'm glad for last night's election and I'm proud to see the diversity of people that supported Obama. I'm also a little embarrassed for the crowds I've seen at the republican concession speeches these last two elections. We are not a country of only rich white dudes and red necks. I'm so glad the results of these elections have reflected that.

One last thing is this idea that we have the best health care system in the world. It's embarrassing and I'm hopeful that with the administration able to continue its progress on this that we can fix it. I also fish with a lot of Canadians and have traveled extensively throughout Canada. I have yet to find a Canadian that thinks our system is better than theirs. Yes, sometimes people from Canada come to the States for elected surgeries but I've also known of many Americans that have traveled to other countries for procedures; even to Canada. Go Figure.

Keep 'em where they live...