More on "the Real Great Depression", which I stunningly never learned of in school.

I hate Joel Osteen's teaching.

So 1870s is a better comp for the late 2000s. Interesting.

WHAT FOR THE HELL.

"The Democrats have proposed comprehensive legislation called the 95/10 initiative that aims to reduce the number of abortions that take place in this country by 95% within 10 years. While Barack Obama is a pro-choice candidate, he supports this and similar legislation. This is the only proposed and realistic strategy that can move us around the cultural impasse that is breathing hate and anger into the Christian community.

"While Barack Obama opposes late-term abortions, he has made promises to the National Organization or Women to make progress in a woman’s right to chose. I wish Obama were more strong on this issue. Still, I do feel he will accomplish more than John McCain, as John McCain has only recently taken this position and offers no legislation and no plan." I find myself with Don here.

The entire VP debate, in case you missed it.

Check Kari's comment above mine in response to Roger. KILLED me. "Probably GoArmy.com." That girl is FUNNY!

"The economic meltdown is hurting everyone. But if you’re an early baby boomer over the age of 55, you may be in particularly big trouble. In an economic crisis, many employers lay off older workers first because their seniority makes them more expensive. And studies document that older workers who lose their jobs face more difficulties finding new ones." The other day, Mom assured me that Dad had recently taken his private retirement funds to very-conservative positions. Add in Social Security and his Air Force pension [20 years USAF, retired as a major], and I'm really not worried for them. But I am worried for many of their peers, many of whom are my colleagues. Me, my plan is to retire at 75, if then.

"Another thing I want to lump into the 'morality' bit: health care. This is one place where I’m increasingly convinced the hard Right has gotten it wrong for a while. We have a moral obligation to provide health care for those who can’t afford it. Now, I’m skeptical about the effectiveness of government-run health care, and I don’t think the USA will end up with a fully-socialized system akin to the Canadian or British ones for a while yet, but we should find a way to make sure people are cared for. i think Obama will have a better focus in that regard." I owe Chris [and Bryan!] a response in a similar regard, but Chris hits one of my major points.

"NASA's 2009 budget is about $18 billion. For perspective, each year the US spends more than $300 billion just paying interest on the ever-growing national debt. In 2009 alone the US will spend $600 billion on defense and homeland security. This does not include most of the $12 billion spent each month in Iraq and Afghanistan on a war set to ultimately cost trillions of dollars. Entitlement spending on programs like Medicare and Social Security is projected to balloon later this century to crippling amounts of the US GDP. Now, with the increasingly volatile global financial markets sliding into turmoil, the US federal government plans to inject at least $700 billion into Wall Street to staunch the economic hemorrhaging." I am biased, but this is a fucking shame.

Everyone and their brother has linked to this, but it is quite a fascinating read.

Yes, I went through every damn election. Yes, I am a nerd.