Friday, March 29, 2013

My Monied Friends

Well, not my monied friends, but if I was President, I bet I would.  Obama does.  W did.

It is not about political stripes, there are entrenched monied interests on both sides of the aisle.  There are entrenched social welfare groups, just as there are entrenched pharmaceutical and military interests.

How I might wish that there were pure policy decisions based on merit, or serving the most people, or achieving worldwide aims like reducing rural poverty, or even clean drinking water for everyone.  In this country, parts of which are still seeking these opportunities.

But what happens to someone who climbed to the top of the political food chain, and is leader of the Free World?

I have thought lately that this designation is just so much history.  In what ways is the U.S. the leader of anything in the world?  Perhaps from the inside you are too used to things and cannot see your own country objectively.  I wonder how my Canadian daughter thinks about her birthright?  I wonder if I will have culture shock after going to Peru for 2 weeks this fall.

Maybe the answer is a populist President.  Someone self-taught, home-schooled even. Not any ivy league connections. No monied friends to hand out all that federal cash to.

Monday, March 18, 2013

There and back again

Like the Hobbit!
Planning a trip to Peru- who knew this was several time zones away?  And an overnight airport layover away?  OK well once we get these flights booked, we are going on an REI adventure trip.

After the adventure of airports both domestic and foreign, we'll see Machu Piccu up close, and also the Amazon.

I am not ready for some dreaded unusual disease, so will get shots ahead of time.  Time to explore.