OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW!

It is wonderful to have a chance to start anew! Every year when our calendar returns us to January 1 we have the opportunity to start over again, at least figuratively, to drop those attitudes and dispositions which have prevented us from moving forward, to shake off old arguments and grudges, to forget slights and backhanded brushes.This is not only true on the microcosmic level, in our daily lives. It is also true on a macrocosmic level. We are "standing upon a precipice" as the characters stated in the recent remake of the The Day the Earth Stood Still. There is great turmoil the world over, not the least of which is the Arab Israeli conflict. The sensitivity of the financial markets to the continual drama put on by the world cannot be overlooked, either.



The world should take advantage of the New Year and the change in the Administration of the United States of America. Both present fabulous opportunities to look at the world afresh and to try to chart a course away from the present malay and danger lurking behind our actions.



Here on the home front our financial sector has wreaked havoc on the country. Yet the reason, the manner in which we conduct business, has yet to be addressed. All manner of sugar-coated prescriptions have been suggested, none of which confront the naked ugliness of the problem. The financial sector is the custodian of ridiculous amouts of money. With a simply key-stroke that money can travel from one continent to another, from one industry to another, with absolutely no allegiance or hindrance. Why isn't this a "national security" issue, huh? God forbid you mention the word "regulation" everyone panics. They tell us that money and the market need to be free (to do whatever it is they do). Bull fu--ing Sh-t. Men ARE the markets. Much hard and honest work needs to be done here. And this is the year to do it.




Internationally we can begin the task of repairing our image around the globe and re-building relationships brought down or severed in the Bush Administration. The world needs to bring its weight, specifically the Arab and Muslim communities, to bear on the Arab Israeli situation. Therein lie the seeds of a third world war or at least a conflagration of immense proportions.




A new arms race is already under way and why shouldn't it be? Every nation wants the right to protect itself against the agression of another. What is it here in the US, the right to bear arms? Well obviously the more of us bearing arms the more dangerous our society becomes. I refuse to believe I am the only one to realize this.




And obviously race relations could be better. Perhaps with the President-Elect in office this will open up a different sort of dialogue provide the press stops feeding the lowest urges of the public, those divisive, malignant urges that keep us apart when we could be coming together.





So let this year be a year of healing, reconnection, exploration and rebuilding. My prayers are with the President-Elect and his family. My prayers are with the hardworking folks out there who have found themselves out of work, out of pensions and investments. My prayers are with those who are struggling (like myself) to make ends meet. My prayers engulf the world in hope and healing.


Auf Wiedersehen, Thomas!