Defining Moments of the Decade: January 20, 2009, The Inauguration

It was exactly one year ago today that our new President was sworn in and followed with a 22 minute speech with some resounding rhetoric which I want to share with my readers.

He said, "44 Americans have now taken the presidential oath...That we are in the midst of crisis is well understood. Our nation is at war against a far reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some...Homes have been lost, jobs shed, businesses shuttered, our healthcare is too costly, our schools fail too many and each day brings further evidence that the way we use energy strengthens our adversaries and threatens our planet...Know this America they (the challenges we face) will be met!" (applause)

"On this day we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas that have far too long strangled our politics...as scripture says, the time has come to lay aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit, to choose our better history, to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea passed on from generation to generation that god-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness."

"Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and begin again the work of remaking America."

Our country is in a sad state of affairs one year later. We have 'replaced' the war in Iraq with a never-ending war in Afghanistan with no clear motive. The country has been termed the "graveyard of empires" because a fierce group of independent war lords has controlled vast mountainous regimes for thousands of years and no empire from Alexander the Great in 333 B.C.E. to the Soviet Union in the 1980's has been able to subdue them and unify the country.

Our economy is in a shambles. Credit is virtually non-existent for the small businessman and many a homeowner; banks are taking in depositors money at 1% and loaning out at 15-25%. Large investment banks are deemed too large to fail, are bailed out with taxpayer money so they can continue to leverage funds and speculate--with our money--and then record blockbuster earnings; finally, they reward themselves royally with mammoth bonuses with moneys that we have advanced them.


Mr. and/or Mrs. Main Street is unemployed, living off of food stamps and unemployment benefits. One-third of America's mortgages are under water and families are simply walking away to seek less expensive shelter. Some communities such as Las Vegas run weekly tours of foreclosed homes with the slogan: Prices Won't Last. In Cape, Coral Florida, real estate agents run buses with slogans as: Foreclosure Tours R Us... with possibly misleading guarantees such as Prices Won't Last (indeed, that is unless you believe prices will continue to plummet)

Finally, our Health Care system is in dire need of repair. But with trillions of dollars at stake, thousand of insurance companies are fighting for a piece of the pie and for their life, doctors are threatening to refuse Medicare patients because of proposed reduction in fees paid by the program and the cost of hospitalization and tort cases keeps mushrooming. The veto-proof majority that the dems own in congress is now lost with the election of a republican to the senate from Massachusetts.

The single-payer insurance system is the obvious answer which would save the taxpayer about $75 Billion a year in administrative/paper work costs currently borne by the industry. Some form of Public Option is a definite plus to control costs.

Congress appears to be like an albatross frozen dead in their self-generated inertia and petty squabbles.

There is a definite bright side to the broad dismal picture. a move to bipartisanship activity is a definite first step. One side of the aisle has and can make amends and friends with the other side. Joe Scarborough, "Morning Joe" outlines in his book The Last Best Hope how it is possible to reach over to the other side to get legislation done. I strongly recommend the read! People, beginning with our elected leaders can reach into their hearts and pockets and sincerely care enough to help their suffering constituents they represent. Empathy, sympathy and true grit is needed to change the old boy's way of doing business in the halls of Congress, Wall Street and, yes at home, too. We must begin caring for each other.

A second earthquake has rattled our neighbor Haiti. It's time to wake up America; it's time to take an active role in helping these unfortunate people recover. But, at the same time let us not forget those who need our hope at home, in our families, friendship circles, churches, mosques and synagogues; it's time to care for others; it's time to leave the greedy appetite for more money and power behind us and reach out to those who truly need us. Yes, charity begins at home with small acts of loving-kindness! Go for it, America.

Change is possible--helping one person at a time.