Banking Alternatives to Banking with Big Banks

Ever wondered what big banks invest your money into?  Well...often its often used to line executive pocketbooks or invest in big money generating projects that are terrible for the environment and/or human rights and/or all kinds of other things that one might want to conserve and uphold.  Check out the article below for more info on this and on how to find out how to bank with banks that invest in programs that help not hurt communities, and that are less likely to gamble your savings for their own profit.

CLICK HERE! to link to article below...

Printer friendly version Send this to a friend Sign up for email list Become a member Grow the Green Economy Help us grow a green economy that works for people and the planet. Join Green America Today! February 2009 We've all heard the news about the outrageous bonuses and expenditures by the CEOs of the huge banks receiving generous federal bail-outs, courtesy of American taxpayers. Just this month alone, we've seen this egregious behavior: Bank of America ($45 billion bail-out) exposed for its lavish $10 million Super Bowl party,  Morgan Stanley ($10 billion bail-out), holding a posh weekend conference at a five-star Palm Springs resort, Wells Fargo ($25 billion bail-out), forced by public exposure to cancel an all-expenses-paid weekend in Las Vegas for its top staff, and Citigroup ($45 billion bail-out), being publicly scolded by President Obama for its intention to purchase a new $50 million private jet. "We all need to take responsibility," said President Obama. "This includes executives at major financial firms who turned to the American people, hat in hand ... even as they paid themselves customary lavish bonuses. It's shameful. And that's exactly the kind of disregard of the costs and consequences of their actions that brought about this crisis: a culture of narrow self-interest and short-term gain at the expense of everything else."  Is your mega-bank letting you down? You can compare the mega-banks' social and environmental records at our Responsible Shopper Web site. And then look forgreener, community-committed banks.   There are a significant number of financial institutions that, unlike the mega-banks, are built on a culture of community and shared long-term prosperity.  Below, we give you links to our resources for shifting your banking (checking, savings, credit cards) toward institutions that truly share your values.   And when you leave that mega-bank – tell them why. Nothing motivates corporate change faster than losing customers – especially in this economy.   CHECKING AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS When you open a checking or savings account with a traditional bank, your money can end up funding all sorts of unwise pursuits – not only lavish parties and executive bonsues, but also projects you would never support:  fossil-fuel energy projects or construction of big-box stores, for example. Community development banks and credit unions, on the other hand, channel funds into projects that build healthy communities. They help low- and moderate-income people buy homes, start small businesses, continue their education, or create much needed services like child care. The basic principles of community investing keep community investing institutions strong: Lenders and borrowers know each other. Lenders invest in the success of their borrowers—with training and technical assistance along with loans. And the people who provide capital to the lenders expect reasonable, not speculative, rates of return. If all banks followed these principles, the economy wouldn't be in the mess it's in today. Opening a checking or savings account with one of these banks will make your money ork for social change. Community development banks and credit unions have all of the same services of the mega-banks – from checking to CDs to money market accounts. Your checking and savings accounts are federally insured up to $250,000, and many of them offer online banking, so even if there isn’t one near you, you can still use your banking to create healthy communities.  You can find a searchable database of banking options at our Community Investment Web site, where you can also click on "Stories" to learn more about the work of a specific bank. Visit our www.CommunityInvest.org » Get more background info on community investing »   CREDIT CARDS Take a look in your wallet.  If you use credit cards, chances are that you've got a card sponsored by one of the mega-banks. Our Real Green newsletter article introduces you to several credit cards issued by socially responsible banks and credit unions that exemplify responsible lending practices—as well as community investing institutions that take the social mission one step further by also investing in low-income populations.  Our article links you to credit cards from banks that invest in communities from Portland, OR to Durham, NC, and that devote a portion of their income to issues from the environmental stewardship of the Pacific Coast to reducing carbon emissions. Read our Responsible Credit Cards article »

Public Declarations and Remembrance for Those Killed in the Bhopal Tragedy

In 1984 something tragic happened in India.  

Atrociously enough, it was more tragic than the terrorist attacks in Mumbai that just occurred two weeks ago.  In the 1984 tragedy, the perpetrator was an American company located in Michigan called *Dow Chemical*.  And they *still have not cleaned up the chemical spill*...it still infests the groundwater and continues to poison the people that live there over twenty years later.

This blog post will first provide you a snippet of background information from Wikipedia page on the Bhopal disaster (*click here* to connect to the page).  

It will then provide you with a Public Declaration for Collective Action and accompanying press statement on the 24th Anniversary of Remembrance of this disaster submitted by Obama is America! blogger *GardensForPeace*.

*Click here* to connect to Dow Chemical's 'Contact us' page to submit a request that they clean up the mess in Bhopal, or to declare your anger at the human injustice their corporation has perpetuated.

Snippet:

The Bhopal disaster was an industrial disaster that occurred in the city of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, resulting in the immediate deaths of more than 3,000 people, according to the Indian Supreme Court. A more probable figure is that 8,000 died within two weeks, and it is estimated that an additional 8,000 have since died from gas related diseases.^[1][2]

The incident took place in the early hours of the morning of December 3, 1984, in the heart of the city of Bhopal in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. A Union Carbide subsidiarypesticide plant released 42 tonnes of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas, exposing at least 520,000 people to toxic gases. The Bhopal disaster is frequently cited as the world's worst industrial disaster.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} The International Medical Commission on Bhopal was established in 1993 to respond to the disasters.

PUBLIC DECLARATION OF REMEMBRANCE

Let us pray for the lives and health of these Global and Indian citizens so easily forgotten by the international media, and the international community. When we think about global citizenship, human rights, and the idea of the individual, how can we as an internationally community mourn foreign tourists killed in Mumbai, but so easily forget the truncated lives, poisoned environments, and daily deaths of Bhopal. What makes our society so enraged and inspired by 9/11, but so deeply disassociated from Hurricane Katrina. What makes the preservation of wealth more important than the preservation of life? 

At this moment we are at a critical junction  where global society needs to take decisive and immediate action to address the impending crises facing our world, and the dream of effective and immediate mobilization has been awakened to in the hearts of Americans and global citizens. However, to really create the change needed, we will have to to build a new generation, a new approach, and a new vision of priorities, morals and values to really move change. Change will come from the bottom up as can be seen by the way Obama's presidential campaign was conducted. But it must also come from the top down. Governments, big business, well-paid individuals need to re-evaluate key priorities critical for mutual societal benefit. Only when we work together, can real change happen in society and within ourselves.

We are at a critical juncture where we must collectively envision a better world, and actively work towards that goal. Primary in my vision, is the fundamental right to a healthy environment. We can no longer forget the lives fighting for justice in Bhopal and around the world. We must envision a sustainable society that does not rely upon the destruction of our environments to fuel our economies. This environmental destruction inevitably becomes a destruction of human life, dream and possibility that affects everyone living on this planet.

______________________________

December 03, 2008

Bhopal's 24th anniversary rally honours its own

Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmachari Sangh 
Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha 
Bhopal Group for Information and Action

December 3, 2008

*Press Statement*

On the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the Bhopal gas disaster thousands of survivors along with neighborhood residents exposed to pollution from Union Carbide's chemical waste today marched in a rally to the abandoned factory that is the site of the world's worst industrial disaster. They burnt an effigy of Dow Chemical, the current owner of Union Carbide in front of the factory and held a public meeting where individual survivor activists were felicitated.

Leaders of the three organizations: Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Stationery Karmchari Sangh, Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Purush Sangharsh Morcha and Bhopal Group for Information and Action leading the 24th Anniversary rally warned the Central and the State governments that if the Empowered Commission for long term rehabilitation of the survivors and their children is not set up soon they will intensify their agitation in Bhopal and New Delhi.

They said that there were still over 100,000 people battling with chronic illnesses caused by Union Carbide's chemical poisons. Additionally an unusually large number of people are suffering from Tuberculosis, Diabetes and Hypertension and mental health problems as a consequence of toxic exposure. Government agencies such as the Centre for Rehabilitation Studies have reported that contaminated ground water is causing diseases of the lungs, eyes, skin and the digestive system in a population of over 25 thousand people living next to the abandoned factory.

Most worrisome is the fact of unusually large number of children in the affected communities with birth defects such as damaged brain, undeveloped limbs, cleft lip and missing palate and severe growth disorders. The organizations said that currently the government does not provide any help to thousands of children born with disabilities and the country's apex research body Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is yet top carry out studies on the effects on the next generation of Bhopal victims.

The organizations said that the state government has completely failed to provide economic and social rehabilitation to the victims and has caused more harm than good in the matter of the thousands of tones of hazardous waste dumped in and around the abandoned Union carbide factory. They said that they have a lot of expectations from the Empowered Commission on Bhopal for sustained medical, economic, social and environmental rehabilitation and they will not tolerate any delay in its setting up.

The organizations said that the support given to Union Carbide and Dow Chemicals by the governments of USA and India is the main cause for continuing injustice in Bhopal. Warren Anderson and the authorized representative of Union Carbide are still absconding from the criminal case on the world's worst industrial massacre. Violating principles of 'polluter pays' and that of 'successor liability' that are established both in USA and India, Dow Chemical continues to deny liability for the toxic contamination of soil and ground water in and around the factory in Bhopal.

On 3rd Dec hundreds of gas affected survivors and people affected by water contamination will stage a massive rally from Bharat Talkies to the infamous Union Carbide factory. Survivors' organisations will hold a public event to felicitate people who contributed significantly to the victory of the 2008 Bhopal to New Delhi Padyatra. Replicas of the iconic mother-and-child statue commemorating the disaster, and citations will be handed over to more than 100 people, including children who participated in the Padyatra.

Reader Post: To a new cause

To a new cause

 

It has been more than a decade since I had the pleasure of becoming an American Citizen. To be an American Citizen means that as a person of foreign background, I have the obligation to involve myself with the hardships of this land. One can be an American citizen, but not everyone can truly know what it really means to be an American citizen.

Time has shown that this country has been built upon the hard struggles of immigrants who came here for the chance to better their lives and their progeny. The bourgeois society who feel above themselves to be "the ones" who are making the difference, often are misguided to the truth of the American dream—to be free from prejudgments.

An American has civil rights that are inherited truths. No one under any circumstance can ever take away such rights. It is true that situations call for dreams to be upheld by the sacrifice of those who often die in the process in creating the dream. However, as American citizens, we must each burn in our psyche that another human gave way to my path.

With today's distinctions, we often misunderstand the cause of idealism. A cause must, and should, be a collective ideal that has both the motives of love and strife. This duality helps and allows us to understand that the coming of any dream has to take shape as an ideal and then, as a manifestation of culture and identity of and for the people.

Therefore, with all the histories that have come and gone, and with now the new president-elect Barack Obama, we, as American Citizens, hope to now be united by diplomacy rather than by blood. As often, we must be reminded that the Constitution of the United States was written with hopes and regrets; hopes that we always remember how this country came to be, and regrets in how it can be stolen form us if we do not unite as a people regarding our great diversities.

emanuel perez

A Few Notes on Culture, Change, and the Future

This is Indian Bollywood actress *Karishma Kapoor* modeling a high fashion Indian *sari*

THE WORLD IS ALREADY DIFFERENT!!! CHANGE HAS ALREADY HAPPENED!!! WE JUST NEED TO REALIZE IT!!!

If you want to know about culture today and what it is that is 'trendy' or whatever, you have to know that race and class don't matter in the way that you might think. They don't matter in that blatant stereotypes and pidgeonholing of people into specific categories is something that has broken down tremendously. In the videos below, you will see two women of color - one African American woman, and one Sri Lankan woman who is English. These two women are trendsetters of today and the influences of a generation that is going to determine our future.

Adults may feel like we have a more 'realistic' vision of the world because we have been here longer. But, the future is not a world in which we are stuck in archaic structures of racism and exotification of non-White peoples and women. The future is people being people, doing what they do, creating what they will, dreaming as big as they want, and fulfilling those dreams, regardless of sexual orientation, race, belief system, religion, nationality, or income level.

So what do you think about THAT?????

Janelle Monae - Many Moons:

M.I.A. - Jimmy:

Article: Obama on Thanksgiving: 'A New and Brighter Day Is Yet To Come'

Below, please find an article about Obama, his Thanksgiving speech, and what he did with his family (including volunteering at a food bank).  Also, read the comments people wrote about the article (which you can find underneath the article) if you get the chance.  They are quite interesting.

PEACE!!

Obama on Thanksgiving: 'A New and Brighter Day Is Yet To Come'

November 27, 2008 11:11 AM

Published by ABC News Blog

ABC News’ Matt Jaffe reports from Chicago:

The day after President-elect Barack Obama wrapped up his third press conference on the economy in as many days, he acknowledged on Thanksgiving that "times are tough" for the country, but harkened back to the successes of President Abraham Lincoln in reassuring Americans that "a new and brighter day is yet to come."

Listen to it HERE.

"Times are tough. There are difficult months ahead," Obama said in the weekly Democratic Radio Address, released two days early in time for the holiday. "But we can renew our nation the same way that we have in the many years since Lincoln's first Thanksgiving: by coming together to overcome adversity; by reaching for –- and working for –- new horizons of opportunity for all Americans. So this weekend –- with one heart, and one voice, the American people can give thanks that a new and brighter day is yet to come."

Watch it HERE.

Obama is spending the holiday at his Chicago home with his wife Michelle and their daughters Malia and Sasha, after volunteering at a food bank in their hometown Wednesday afternoon.

Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill headed north from their home in Wilmington, Del., to spend Thanksgiving with their family in Nantucket, off the Massachusetts coast.

Obama spent the first three days of this week emphasizing the "historic" economic crisis the country is facing, calling for "bold" government action, such as a massive stimulus package he wants Congress to have ready for him when he is inaugurated on January 20th.

On this national holiday, Obama not only acknowledged the nation's financial troubles, but also paid tribute to the troops serving abroad in America's two wars.

"This Thanksgiving also takes place at a time of great trial for our people," he said. "Across the country, there were empty seats at the table, as brave Americans continue to serve in harm's way from the mountains of Afghanistan to the deserts of Iraq. We honor and give thanks for their sacrifice, and stand by the families who endure their absence with such dignity and resolve. At home, we face an economic crisis of historic proportions."

In order to overcome the financial problems, Obama reiterated, "It's going to take bold and immediate action to confront this crisis."

But the Illinois lawmaker stated that government action alone will not be enough to revive the economy.

"This Thanksgiving, we are reminded that the renewal of our economy won't come from policies and plans alone –- it will take the hard work, innovation, service, and strength of the American people," concluded the President-elect.

On Thanksgiving morning, Obama went to the gym to work off some of the Thanksgiving grub awaiting him later in the day. He is expected to spend the holiday weekend with his family in Chicago, with a trip to the stores possible as well.

Noting Wednesday that his two daughters had already submitted their wish-lists for Santa, Obama said he might even do some "extra shopping" on Black Friday, the busiest shopping day of the year.

After the holiday weekend, it's back to work for the suddenly media-friendly President-elect, who took a total of 13 questions from reporters in his tripleheader newsers this week and will face more early next week when he is expected to unveil his national security team.

-- Matt Jaffe

November 27, 2008 | Permalink | User Comments (46)

User Comments

Barack Obama has set the bar too high and his supporters are expecting miracles in a very short period of time, but his greatest challenge is going to be lifting the tens of millions of inner-city voters out from a life of crime and poverty. African-Americans in particular have always felt that they were not represented and therefore, neglected. Now, one of their own is going to be President and Democrats will have overwhelming control of both the House and Senate...so expectations are that NOW they will expect their fortunes to be reversed. Unfortunately, their hopes and dreams will be crushed by the reality that government is not going to change their fortunes for them. There are some who will continue to work their way to a better life, but not much more than in years past. For almost all, their situation today will still exist in 2012. My only question is...will they continue to be the victims of the Democratic Party, or will they expand their political views? Telling people what they want to hear may get their attention and in the short-term may inspire them to initiate action; but over the long haul, they must see significant progress to sustain that movtivation...or they will fall into despair and quit. Barack Obama has achieved the initial inspiration part and he has the Congress in his hip pocket, but can he sustain that momentum as Republicans attempt to undermine him at home (like Democrats did to President Bush) and our enemies undermine us abroad? I think we are in for a long four years, but I hope I am wrong.

Posted by: Gary | Nov 28, 2008 11:44:11 AM

they hated us before Bush. they are jealous as we were the richest most powerful nation on earth

Posted by: al | Nov 28, 2008 11:05:24 AM

If hussein holds another press conference to announce his plans I'm going to vomit. When will this lying tool (he's already gone back on or repositioned himself on every campaign promise since he won) stop campaigning and realize he will have to make decisions and stand on his positions as a president. Too bad he's never lead anything.

Posted by: Rob | Nov 28, 2008 8:06:19 AM

Anna,

Yeah, Bush kept us safe alright. 911 happened on HIS WATCH.

Yeah, he invaded the WRONG country and only stoked up resentment among Middle-Easters. I personally would be pretty angry if my family member got killed in a mis-targeted air-strike.

Yeah, he kept us safe alright. The Americans in Mumbai aren't very safe now. The troops in Afghanistan aren't very safe now either.

Yeah, we haven't been attacked on home soil since after 911, but the whole world pretty much hated us (until Obama won, that is).

Posted by: Grey Matter | Nov 28, 2008 5:23:49 AM

>>To that person who wasn't grateful to >>Bush for keeping us safe after 911, >>maybe 911 would not have happened if >>Clinton had done something, ANYTHING, >>after the UN was bombed!

Posted by: Anna | Nov 27, 2008 3:48:33 PM

Anna, you suffer the same vices as the Bush administration. You're too damned confident about things that you know nothing about, but you only want to look at mirrors of your uninformed opinion. When hubris meets ignorance you get elitists: democrats and republicans.

Attention GOP puppets: read Tenet's newest book and Bob Baer's book to understand exactly what's wrong with our intelligence agency and what's right with it. If you are literate, honest, and have any firing neurons you would know the CIA lost its ways under REAGAN! And even then take the time to actually learn what the agency told the BUSH administration about Iraq and then think. I know it makes you uncomfortable, but your country needs your patriotism, not your chauvinism. You might began to answer the question about how "safe" we all are today, with an iota of fact.

Try cracking a book you don't want read with an open mind. Maybe the _Iraq study group report_? Don't worry its short. We were all born imperfect and will die imperfect, but unless you try to grow every day of your life you might as well be dead.

Posted by: Patriot | Nov 28, 2008 12:49:07 AM

Hey bal
I have some for you? You reap what you sow. Fact is that either Obama puts out or shut up! If you want respect & support, then he better show some decisive ACTION. It speaks louder than words and don't forget respect. Time will tell? And I am also independent.

Posted by: marty | Nov 28, 2008 12:31:54 AM

the last 16 years have done wonders to our country-----slick willy and his trade sellouts and bush with his freaking war.now obama is expected to correct it all before he is even sworn in as pres. it is no wonder this country is in such a mess.

Posted by: rodney | Nov 27, 2008 9:47:08 PM

Does a new and brighter day yet to come mean that things can't get much worse? But tis better to have holiday cheer than none!

Posted by: kat | Nov 27, 2008 9:13:30 PM

Just hearing president elect Obama speak, as compared to president Bush gives me hope that he can in time turn around this mess that the Bush lead Republican Party has gotten us in.

Posted by: marty | Nov 27, 2008 7:57:21 PM

Yes, PEBO - in about 4-8 years!

So: If God's people will humble themselves and pray, and cease from their wicked ways,... God will heal their land! :)

Posted by: aware2u | Nov 27, 2008 7:28:23 PM

Hey Brent, Take away the college kiddies and the blacks and Obama would NEVER have won.......

Posted by: Anna | Nov 27, 2008 3:50:34 PM

That's not even close to the truth Anna. Obama won in all catagories. Check the facts.

Posted by: d | Nov 27, 2008 5:48:57 PM

One more thing we need to get straight. Mr. Obama is not the President-elect. He will not be until the electoral college votes and that won't happen until December. If we are going to be so accurate about things on here lets start with who Obama even is.

Posted by: Jeremy | Nov 27, 2008 5:47:29 PM

President-elect Obama is love and America incarnate, we can all learn from him. Happy Thanksgiving.

Posted by: SB | Nov 27, 2008 5:40:01 PM

no matt , hes not going to be trapped by unfriendly reporters pre-biasing the gullible american readers/voters.

your questions will all get answered once he effectively gets his hands on the levers that run this country.

hes going to let his actions do the talking... just sit back and watch.

also of note...you republican whiners remember , dont forget about april 15th!

Posted by: bal | Nov 27, 2008 5:02:06 PM

The election was a landslide if all you count is people 30 and younger. Looking at it from the GOP side it IS too bad you can't take them away. The real scary part is voters who were 30 and younger for this election will include all the voters 34 and younger for the next election, and their numbers are only going to grow as a percentage of the voting population going forward. This is the beginning of a generational shift in politics.

Posted by: snodman | Nov 27, 2008 4:35:51 PM

Hey Brent, Take away the college kiddies and the blacks and Obama would NEVER have won.......

Posted by: Anna | Nov 27, 2008 3:50:34 PM

To that person who wasn't grateful to Bush for keeping us safe after 911, maybe 911 would not have happened if Clinton had done something, ANYTHING, after the UN was bombed! Anyone who has faith in these democrats better pray that they change, trust me.

Posted by: Anna | Nov 27, 2008 3:48:33 PM

Lets see what everyone things an him this time next year or when these problems don't miraculously disappear on January 21

Posted by: Brent | Nov 27, 2008 3:40:37 PM

President elect Obama was chosen by 52% of voters. An even larger percentage around the world is happy he won. I hate to tell you Obama-haters, but you guys are in the minority.

Posted by: Edwin L. Jones | Nov 27, 2008 3:33:18 PM

Mr Obama , blah, blah , blah, blah blahhhh.

Posted by: Frank | Nov 27, 2008 3:29:08 PM

America is already a brighter place, having elected Barak Obama as our president. His vision for a future inspires us to achieve it. Yes, it will take much energy and determination to undo the damage of the past eight years, but Yes We Can.

I for one am proud again to be an American.

To a reinvigorated and uncorrupted America. Happy Thanksgiving.

- Arye Michael Bender -

Posted by: Arye Michael Bender | Nov 27, 2008 3:18:41 PM

Isn't it about time that some of you leave the party politics at the door? For those of you who still insist upon continually bashing Mr. Obama may I remind you that he has yet to take office. For someone who is President-Elect, I feel he is already doing an excellent job of uniting a fragmented country and bringing the opposition into the fold. What other President-Elect has had to shoulder so much, so soon, prior to even being sworn in? I look forward to the Obama administration! This guy is good and I am even more confident in his abilities to lead and provide a vision. As for Mr. Bush, well.. history shall be his judge. Who knows what one would have done given the events and circumstances at the time. However, he should be given many kudos for his graciousness in welcoming the new administration with such openess and a willingness to work together. There's A LOT to be credited for that alone. For the still impossible naysayers, I ask you to ask yourself; "Could John McCain AND especially Sarah Palin have done any better?" Ms. Palin continues to underline her ineptness on a daily basis! ...Remember, she was John McCaine's choice of which I would say is a direct reflection of his decision-making ability.

Posted by: FS | Nov 27, 2008 3:14:38 PM

to mksyed:

What are you talking about?!

Posted by: vince vaughn | Nov 27, 2008 2:52:50 PM

Got bless Barak Obama.

Posted by: Gerry | Nov 27, 2008 2:38:41 PM

Hey Man, Say President Obama.Your President. If Bush can be President with "Stolen election" and do all this crap and you can say him president ..ss.
why you cant say PRESIDENT OBAMA who won LANDSLIDE. I know some of you redneck do not like that,Ha. Dont make us laugh.Open your eyes,come back to reality.world is changing.This is just the begining. I respect the GUTS of President BARAK OBAMA.He is a "SON OF A GUN" President of USA.

Posted by: mksyed | Nov 27, 2008 2:30:57 PM

I am waiting when Bush and all those 
Republican "cowboys" are leaving.I hate
this people and of course 60-70% of all americans. They proved it and Voted fot it.Now we are all "Democrats" and will rule our country for Eight years of course for sure and may be next 12-16 years.Republicans are"Dog and Cat food".
From 2050 onwards whether Republican can Win "White House"is Questionable ??

Posted by: mksyed | Nov 27, 2008 2:18:51 PM

How can people say Bush kept us safe? Under whose Presidency did Sept 11th happen? Let's not forget that.

Peace

Posted by: Lisa | Nov 27, 2008 2:16:45 PM

Thanksgiving is what this man is talking about. My greatest hope is that we can remember that both parties have a say in what course this country will track notthose most Jingoistic. My prayers are with President-elect Obama and the efforts he is making to bring this country back from a precipace we (in looking at other posts in this blog) are getting too. Lets try to come to consensus in this country for our childrens good. It will not happen overnight but it will not happen at all if we are all not openminded.