Gas shortage

So in case people haven't noticed we are experiencing a gas shortage here in Georgia. But the reason is why? EPA standards for fuel sulfur in Atlanta are higher because of poor air quality. All this time I thought that gas shortages were due to the hurricanes. It's interesting because I've heard people say that you haven't lived through a gas shortage unless you went through the one in the 70s where gas was rationed depending on whether your tag ended in an old or even number. At a time as this what should be done? Should regulations be loosened to allow more hazardous fuel in Atlanta while saving people time. This particular situation is one of opportunity cost. If the EPA doesn't loosen up the restrictions things could get ugly pretty quickly (actually they have but they could get worse.) Would more football games be considered for cancellation? It's already bad how much time people spend sitting in traffic everyday commuting to and from work or school. How much more time are they going to sacrifice to get gas. I've driven around and have seen lines that go as far was several miles. I went to fill up on Friday night and was informed that I had to turn around and do down the street to get in line for gas. I've also seen cop cars at gas stations there to make sure things don't get out of control. I was in Macon on Saturday and saw fewer lines but lines none the less meaning that the impact of those regulations is being felt else where in Georgia. However if the EPA does loosen up restrictions then what happens if the same situation or something worse occurs again? Do they repeat with the reduction of restrictions? The air quality in Atlanta would get worse than it is now causing other factors to come into play such as health hazards, quality of life in Atlanta etc... I was surprised to see that the news medium did address the issue with more coverage ( I googled the issue and saw only a handful of responses.) Either way the population of Atlanta and beyond are going to have to give something up to get something in return. More gas equals less air quality. Less gas equals more time in line waiting for gas. Who in the 70s would have imagined having to live through something similar (in context not extremity) again in their life time with gas shortages?

$19.8 million

$19.8 million dollars is a lot of money unless you are Bill Gates ( however a slight pinch might be felt if that money was lost.) That is the amount that ex-CEO of Freddie Mac Richard Syron made last year. I have no problem with someone making that kind of money (I sure won't mind making that much) but I do have a problem with someone making that kind of money and forcing individuals directly and indirectly involved in your company pay for decisions that you made. America is a capitalistic nation it's what makes America America. However that could be a double edged sword as we are observing during this current financial crisis. Decisions that were made by Mr. Syron are costing Americans millions of dollars now and in the future. If someone is placed in a position like that of Mr. Syron a lot of responsibiliy comes along with that title. Responsibility that must not be taken lightly. In a competitive environment decisions must be made quickly and efficiently. Mr. Syron made quick decisions but not efficient ones. In 2004 Syron was informed by his chief risk officer, David A. Andrukonis that the company was taking in bad loans. Syron refused to listen to Andrukonis and now look at where his former company is at. Mr. Andrukonis did his job in informing Syron about the risks associated with continual bestowment of bad loans. Syron however did not do his in listening to his risk officer instead he chose to ignore him. It is often said the bigger the risk the bigger the reward. Dealing with millions and millions of peoples financial security however is something that does not bring bigger rewards with bigger risks instead what it brings is turmoil. Turmoil that could've been prevented. That is just one example imagine if other CEO did the same thing risked communal financial security for personal financial security. The fact that both Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are government backed may have contributed to the erronious decisions made by both CEOs of the company. Some how I think that the leaders of these two companies should be held liable and receive some sort punishment. I highly doubt a slap on the hand would be as effective as jail time or something similiar to that. A message needs to be sent out to the American people that if you mess with people's financial security you will pay.

A day which will live in infamy

I don't think anyone ever thought that the words of President Roosevelt would resound with such significance decades later. Each generation is marked with some historical occurrence. For some it was Vietnam, for others the Cold War, but for most of us it was 9/11. It is situations like these that people have the greatest recollection of exactly what they were doing and where they were then the event (s) happened. For me I was in my broadcast media class working on a project when the teacher said that the World Trade Centers had been hit. Confusion and denial spread through-out the room. I remember a classmate of mine crying because she had family that lived and worked close to the trade. The news was turned on in time to capture the crashing of the second plane. It is in moments like these that the true American spirit is seen. The diversifications that make America what it is were diminished. Diversification was not a dividing factor but rather one of unity. For many America represented an opportunity for the betterment of their life circumstances. September 11 was a reminder that not everyone shares or believes in the American dream about freedom. Freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, freedom of the press, freedom from governmental oppression, freedom from oppressive discrimination based on gender, and freedom from persecution of your faith to name a few. Abe Lincoln said it best when he stated "a house divided will fall but a house united will stand." There is a challenge within that statement. A challenge to allow various viewpoints to be held but no so much as to divide the country. Three cords are harder to break than one. America is unique in the essence that it has managed to allow assorted stances to be taken yet managed to keep the country in tact. It is often said that you don't know what you have until its gone. September 11th reminded the American people that freedom comes at a price that has been paid and is being paid. More importantly it reminded Americans about the little things that we take for granted. It was magnificent to see people minimize their political stances and biases for one that depicted to the world that America is united and will continue to be. At the end of the day regardless of your social-economic factor, your lifestyle, your political views, you are an American and that is what matters the most.
September 11th also brought about a different lifestyle for America. The prime example of this is the airport. Restrictions are enacted that some may consider a nuisance but others a necessity. Several legislative bills have been passed with direct or indirect correlation to 9/11. The thing that comes to mind in evaluating the effects of 9/11 is the modern dilemma between freedom and order. In order to create more order must freedom be sacrificed? Or in order for more freedom must order be sacrificed? A balance between the two chords must be reached because too much deviation to one side or another will result in strong opposition.

Change

According to dictionary.com change is defined as to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone. Senator Obama has themed his entire campaign on change. Change from everyday life in Washington, D.C. Change from the way things are done in Washington. Senator McCain uses another adjective to describe himself. Instead of being an agent of change he is a maverick. Dictionary.com defines a maverick as a lone dissenter, an intellectual, an artist, or a politician, who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates. It is true that both politicians use different words to achieve the same means. However there is some irony in the usage of the words that are used to describe the politicians. To start off senator Obama criticizes senator McCain for claiming to be a maverick because he has agreed with President Bush 90% of the time. That particular statement appears in Obama's speeches many a times in an attempt to differentiate himself from McCain. He infers that McCain is just another Washington politician and there is nothing different about him. Ironically speaking Obama chose senator Biden as his running mate. It makes sense to have your running mate compliment you. Many times Obama heard that he didn't have enough experience to run for the presidency. Even Biden declared that same statement many a times. Biden has been in office longer than McCain. Doesn't that qualify him as been worse off in a sense of being an agent of change? Governor Palin stated today that esteemers of Biden can't call him an agent of change. For the GOP Palin can be a source of change because she hasn't been to Washington. Today in Colorado Palin mentioned her approach to dealing with the budget by vetoing bills that were not need by the Alaskan population. McCain ran with that statement declaring that the first pork barreling bill that comes up he will veto and make famous the supporters of that particular bill. McCain also stated that he is working for the people. Several times McCain referred to the supporters as friends and that he is working for them.
Biden referred to the lack of words used by the McCain in the GOP convention as a way to fire up the supporters he was with. It was the lack of referencing to the middle class, health care, aid for education, more cops to protect the citizens, etc... He painted a picture of McCain as being the 5th grade boy who would always have something to say especially when someone else gets something new and shows it off. This whole talk of bringing about change in Washington reminds me of Mr. Smith goes to Washington. Things in Washington are not where they need to be but the process that must be undertaken to take Washington to where it should be will take time. What people may or may not realize is that change is not going to come over night. It is a gradual process and not one that can be ordered and delivered through the drive-thru.
On a side note the sons of Biden, McCain, and Palin are all on schedule to being deployed soon. How will this affect the policies of their parents?