Round Christmas, all is usually quiet around the nation’s capital and our State capitol, Annapolis. Decorations of the season abound, and shoppers scurry about as they have for generations.
Turning to the Nation’s capitol, Washington is always beautiful in initiating the wonders of the winter. With Congress gone, it is even cooler in Washington, D.C., with no hot air emanating from Capitol Hill.
Perhaps this is our time of climate change. Certainly, the new, 114th Congress will no dearth of important issues to address. The XL pipeline, tax reform, immigration, the attempt by the President to open relations’ between the U.S. and Cuba, hacking of U.S. corporations’ by foreign entities, the ongoing unrest between the Ukraine and Russia, the weak economies plaguing European countries to name a few. Additionally, the Russian economy appears to be struggling due in part to the U.S
The recent assassination of two New York City police officers casts a pall over that city and indeed the nation this Christmas. This type of lawlessness cannot be condoned for any reason, period. Our democracy is under attack when these sort of heinous crimes are committed anywhere in America. There is no logic for such actions and no justification.
Race relations in this country are certainly not perfect. The justice system is also not perfect. However, the rule of law must prevail as it is the centerpiece of the fabric of the nation.
This situation is certainly one which has become prevalent this year, round Christmas. Let’s hope that the New Year will bring
calm and reason to a festering situation which ended in tragedy and sadness.
This Christmas finds the world with several pockets of chaos and turmoil. Let’s hope that world leaders will find agreement and improved communications, worldwide.
Round Christmas, let’s stop the demonization of the police throughout the nation. They represent the thin line between anarchy and democracy. Any organization is not perfect. However, without the authorities and our criminal justice system, this nation would not have survived throughout the
generations.
Round Christmas, many organizations and their volunteers demonstrate the best in America. Organizations such as the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Toys for Tots and others serve millions of American citizens in many ways and diverse places.
These traditions and demonstrations of selfless service trump any demonstrations of unrest and disaffection. America is a better nation than often reported or discussed in the mass media. Round Christmas, random acts of kindness, neighborly efforts and community festivities light up America.
Happy Holidays.
James Nick says
Ah, the Grinch has weighed in during this season of glad tidings and joy. Perhaps a direct quote from one of the greatest Republican statesmen of all times is appropriate here.. “In the United States today, we have more than our share of the nattering nabobs of negativism. They have formed their own 4-H Club — the ‘hopeless, hysterical hypochondriacs of history.’” – Spiro Agnew
As we put 2014 in the rearview mirror consider:
Oils and gas prices are at record lows effectively giving us all a tax cut.;
Third quarter US GDP grew at a 5% annual rate, the best in a decade and the envy the rest of the world. And projections are for continued improvement in the private sector economy in 2015.
The stock market continues to soar to record levels;
Inflation continues to be almost non-existent;
More people are working. 2.7 million jobs were created this year. Unemployment continues its steady decline. It has now been below 6% for three months in a row;
Recession-level belt tightening among local and state governments is mostly over;
The federal budget deficit continues to plummet to less than half of what it was during the Bush administration;
Tens of millions of previously uninsured now have affordable healthcare;
The plague of Ebola-infected ISIS jihadis coming across the Mexican border was stopped in its tracks. Oh, wait…. that never happened did it?. That was just the Republicans running around yelling fire in a crowded theater before the midterms;
And investigation after investigation and report after report from the Republican controlled House have shown no connection between the White House and virtually any of the countless whacko conservative conspiracy theory
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Steve Payne says
I thought it was a very nice, thoughtful letter.
Merry Christmas, happy holidays and a very great New Year to all.
Gerald Maynes says
Yes, If you can believe the numbers on employment that certainly bodes well. But since these numbers haven’t been correct in some time and have been corrected so many times over the last few years, Who knows? How many of them are partime and not full time. How many of them pay only 10 dollars per hour and offer zero benefits? What is the average wage of these new jobs? These are the questions that I would like answered.
Yes gas prices are down our Middle Eastern Friends are dumping oil on the market in the hopes of killing our domestic oil business. If successful look out, those prices will double in time.
Yes the stock market is doing great and why not the Fed is artificially keeping interest rates at record lows, in order to finance this boom. However this is not helping the average person with a bank account or a fixed income much. When the Fed stops this practice the stock market will fall like a stone and our 401 Ks will follow suite. Yes inflation is low, it is a product of a low prime rate, lower gas prices and the fact that the index that is used does not include food { Have you seen the price of meat lately) thus is inaccurate. What is extremely possible is deflation. If this happens we could have a new depression.
So, I guess if you ignore the above , then you can celebrate In any case on and all a Happy New Year!