The Murder of Timothy Wright

I noticed that Timothy Wright passed away today. He was killed when a drunk driver hit him and his family head on last year. Though he died today, let's not forget that he was murdered a year ago. It is coming up on the 3^rd anniversary of my wife being murdered by a drunk driver. She was hit head on when a five time drunk driver crossed the lane and hit her head on, as well.

When are we going to make laws tougher on these people? In both cases these people were minding their own business, doing the things that they were suppose to do and were killed by someone who had no regard for the lives of others. They are, in many ways, more dangerous than people with guns. They kill people at random. Driving down the street you could be hit a called in the same manner; your children, your parents, or anyone who have not otherwise put themselves in a position to be killed.

We need tougher, mandatory laws to make take these murders off the streets. The person who killed my wife had been in court the day before. He had test positive for cocaine and was allowed to walk. The cocaine was a violation of his probation. I guess he was just the loveable town drunk, so they let him go. Well, my wife was driving at 6 in the afternoon, sober, minding the speed limit and was met with a violent death.

We need to force the hand of the judges and make these people pay for their crimes, but more importantly take them off the road. Take away their weapons. We do not allow people to run around firing guns, why do we act so carelessly with people wielding weapons which are just as dangerous? First offenses should have serious repercussions. People should do some small amount of jail to try to wake them up – Maybe a week or month. Second offense should be jail for a year, loss of license for a year after that. Third offense should be jail for five years and permanent loss of driving privileges. Fourth offense should be ten years behind bars.

I know some people would say these penalties are harsh, but let me ask you this: If someone was walking the street shoot off guns randomly in the air, the ground, etc. and they did it around your children what would you want done to protect your family? It is no difference. Every time you get in your car, day or night…that person is out there firing his gun.

100 Days of Darkness

Well, another milestone for the country. We are at the marker of the first 100 days of the Obama regime. I guess we have seen some change, but hope is a thing that seems to be waning from the population. Yesterday, GM announced that they are going to close down their plants for the summer. Maybe I'm a bit cynical, but my first thought was "how many of these aren't going to reopen?"

I was clicked open the Drudge Report and was a little humored at the headline proclaiming Obama the greatest President ever. I don't know what world these people live in, but it seems that in my little world people are more pessimistic about the future of this country more than ever. That can't possibly be a good indicator of a great President.

Undoubtedly, the greatest factor in this rise in pessimism is our current economic policies. We seem to have grabbed on to the reigns of a train heading to Keynesian-town. Although, Keynesian economics have been the bane of the US for years and generally discredited, we are going to go on with the greatest blind experiment of such policies in the history of the nation. I'm not positive, but I bet sales of "Atlas Shrugged" are through the roof. What is funny is that it seems Ayn Rand has been naming the bills passed by this idiot. Is it too much to ask that the leader of our nation have some leadership experience? Some idea of economics? – something better than "In the long run, we're all dead."

Personally, I'm still very concerned with his moves to increase funding to foreign nations. This funding includes his spending on abortions abroad. Why is it that the US is spending any money on any other country, much less spending money on funding something so morally divisive? When we are concerned about our people paying their mortgages, or governments making their budget, the first thing that we could cut out is spending abroad. I've been coerced to give my tax dollars to this country, and they have decided to give it to some person or organization in Africa? How does that make sense? There should not be a dime of tax money sent abroad. There is no real justification for this action that is legitimate in any manner. I have no problem with private people deciding to give their money to really anyone, but for you to force me to give my money to ideals or people that I disagree with morally and ethically? That is insane and unjust.

Ah…now I'm just ranting…sorry. Overall, we are in a very depressing place. The first 100 days of the reign of the emperor have left us in a weak and scary place. We have taken huge steps to financial ruin. We have increased our federal funding for morally wrong crusades. We have created a rift in society which is growing day by day. Where is this going to leave us? I don't know, but if we continue to think that this path can continue we will be proven wrong. Nations great and as great have failed, we can't afford to be so arrogant to believe that we can do anything and can live without consequences.

I think back to my childhood and remember that there were two great nations. Some might argue that they were the two greatest nations in the history of mankind. One of those nations is gone.

No Hope

What a crazy time we live in. I just got through reading about David Kellermann. He was the 41 year old CFO from Freddie Mac. Apparently, he has committed suicide. One of his employees called him a hard working guy, with a positive attitude. How does a person who has worked his way to such an esteemed position end his life like this?

Times are tough, there is no doubt, but I think when you finally hit the point of suicide you have to believe that the future is holds no hope. This is a guy who, from all outward appearances, worked at trying to make this company a viable working entity. He was brought into the fold in 1992 as part of a restructuring effort and had been given charge over fixing broke aspects of the company in the recent days. He had gone to U of Michigan and received an MBA from George Washington. After all of that work, he had over 30,000 shares of Freddie Mac which are now worth about $30K.

I know there are probably a lot of spiteful people out there who say good riddance, but I can't help but take time to think about where there person must have been in there mind to take this measure. I don't find it to be some noble move from a person who realizes his failures, but a final desperate act of a person who is so disappointed in their own life and can't see any future worth fighting for.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hold that this person is a victim. It is just the nature of life that we face adversity – God knows we have all faced our own. It is just a reminder to take time and think about your own life, and how you stand. Time to make plans to overcome the trials we face. More importantly, remember that a year from now, this guy will be forgotten by most, but if he had continued to fight, he may have been able to better off than he was today. Once you are out of the game, there is no way in turning things around.