Opinion

I just heard a song that somehow conjured memories of Klamath Falls, OR, where I went to college. Suddenly, I get this very autumn feeling coursing through my being. That somewhat refreshingly alienated feeling smothers me. From a time when the only person I was responsible for was myself.

Well, America, your day has come -- Bush is gone and Obama is here. I'm reserving all opinions for a few more weeks, but I will say this: He's a much better orator than I've heard in a while...Not that that makes a benevolent leader, by any means. Anyway, just thought I'd write something. This site is getting stale.

Perhaps I'm just seething with hatred today. President-elect Barack Obama appointed Hillary Clinton to be secretary of state today. Well, there goes any hope for change! Sure, keep putting your old, crusty Democrats back into power! What are we changing to, Mr President? Back to 1996? So much for change. Ah, yes, let me state the obvious: it was just a slogan. I, for one, did not buy it. But I had hope. Hope that perhaps this man could bring something new to the table.

It strikes me that the traders on Wall Street are nothing but sheep in suits. I won't pretend to know the first thing about the stock market, but what I observe is an odd paradox upheld by two opposing theorems:

1. The stock market is held up, at least subconsciously, as the driving force of the economy.
2. The stock market is held up as an indicator of economic strength.

Don't believe me?

People suck.  No time of year seems to drive that fact further home then the 'holiday' season. Mainly Black Friday. The day that stores run the same 'sales' that they have been running all year long, but throw in a few 'limited to stock on hand' items they gladly sell at a loss if it means driving the single minded masses to their store fronts. This elicits strange behavior from my consumer brethren.