Friday, April 04, 2008
Are things really worse today?
This week I have been thinking about this idea, are things really worse now or do we just have more news about it and more time to watch and read about it. It seems like on the news today that right now is the worst of everything that has ever happened. Whether they are talking about violence or the economy or the weather for reporters history seems to only go as far back as they can remember and that is about 7 to 10 years.
My son was watching a show on National Geographic Channel about the Golden Dragon Massacre in San Francisco in the 70’s. Five innocent people were killed and several more were wounded in a gang shooting in a restaurant. None of the targeted gang members were shot. I started thinking about how in the 70’s the homegrown terrorists groups like the SLA were planting bombs and robbing banks with machine guns. I think there is a lot of violence now in our cities, but there are also a lot more people and a lot more cameras now too. It seems in the 70’s there was more of a chance of innocent bystanders being caught in violence than now. As for gas prices until just the last few months the highest gas prices adjusted for inflation in our nations history was in 1980 after the economic crises during the Carter years.
My son was watching a show on National Geographic Channel about the Golden Dragon Massacre in San Francisco in the 70’s. Five innocent people were killed and several more were wounded in a gang shooting in a restaurant. None of the targeted gang members were shot. I started thinking about how in the 70’s the homegrown terrorists groups like the SLA were planting bombs and robbing banks with machine guns. I think there is a lot of violence now in our cities, but there are also a lot more people and a lot more cameras now too. It seems in the 70’s there was more of a chance of innocent bystanders being caught in violence than now. As for gas prices until just the last few months the highest gas prices adjusted for inflation in our nations history was in 1980 after the economic crises during the Carter years.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Funny News Today
There are two stories in the news today that struck me as funny.
The first one is that Dick Cheney and Barack Obama are distant cousins. How funny is that? We really are a melting pot in the good ole USA.
The second one is that both W and Congress have hideous approval ratings. Here are excerpts from the Reuters story:
Bush's job approval rating fell to 24 percent from last month's record low for a Zogby poll of 29 percent. A paltry 11 percent gave Congress a positive grade, tying last month's record low.
"There is a real question among Americans now about how relevant this government is to them," pollster John Zogby said. "They tell us they want action on health care, education, the war and immigration, but they don't believe they are going to get it."
And I hope that this part is true, but won't likely really have any impact on the final outcome of the election.
The bleak mood could present problems for both parties heading into the November 2008 election campaign, Zogby said.
"Voter turnout could still be high next year, but the mood has turned against incumbents and into a 'throw the bums out' mindset," Zogby said.
The first one is that Dick Cheney and Barack Obama are distant cousins. How funny is that? We really are a melting pot in the good ole USA.
The second one is that both W and Congress have hideous approval ratings. Here are excerpts from the Reuters story:
Bush's job approval rating fell to 24 percent from last month's record low for a Zogby poll of 29 percent. A paltry 11 percent gave Congress a positive grade, tying last month's record low.
"There is a real question among Americans now about how relevant this government is to them," pollster John Zogby said. "They tell us they want action on health care, education, the war and immigration, but they don't believe they are going to get it."
And I hope that this part is true, but won't likely really have any impact on the final outcome of the election.
The bleak mood could present problems for both parties heading into the November 2008 election campaign, Zogby said.
"Voter turnout could still be high next year, but the mood has turned against incumbents and into a 'throw the bums out' mindset," Zogby said.
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