McCain, Clinton and Obama Can't Help Us

No matter who wins in November, we're on our own. Gas prices are hovering around $4.00 per gallon. By the time the general election gets here that price could be closer to $6.00. I can't tell for sure because my crystal ball is on the fritz and I can't afford to get it fixed because of sixty dollar fill ups. One thing I do know is that when we wake up on November 5th, 2008, the price of gas will be pretty much what it was on November 4th. The change from Bush to McCain, Clinton or Obama will not magically make gas affordable. Their election will not make groceries more affordable. Changing the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue will not force your employer to give you a raise.

It's all up to us.

If the price of gas is too high, you have to use less so you don't have to spend as much money on it. This is where Mahoning County voters who let the WRTA levy fail feel that short sighted decision come back to bite them in the rump. Maybe the votes will change if fill ups cost $75.00. Regardless, to spend less on gas, we can only drive less and drive smaller vehicles. Trading in that SUV and buying a Cobalt can save you money and help Valley workers at Lordstown.

Times are tough and they'll probably get tougher as the year goes on. John McCain won't even vote to give veterans of the Iraqi disaster a G.I. Bill that will pay for all their college expenses so you can forget about him helping your kids. If you are punching the clock at Wal-Mart or McDonalds and you are in your mid-twenties, you need to get to school. Working for minimum wage or just a little over it will pretty much consign you to a life where you are working for the gas it takes to get to work and the food on your table. Get an education or get a trade. Anything else is stagnation. Making more money and spending less of it is the only way to succeed.

The United States debt is nearly 9 trillion dollars. The budget cannot be balanced while we are at war so the deficit grows each year. The dollar has taken a beating lately so it may not be the investment of choice for cash rich countries like China. If we find it harder to borrow money then something will have to give. Eventually some of the social programs we depend on may be cut. And believe me, welfare for people will be cut long before welfare for corporations. If you are currently receiving benefits, use this time wisely to get back on your feet.

McCain wants to give us health savings accounts and tax breaks. Big deal. The national savings rate averages negative 1/2 percent and the people who really need help with medical costs don't pay a lot of taxes because they don't make a lot of money. Obama and Clinton want universal health care mandated so you will be paying for your policy unless you're lucky enough to get it through work. It will probably be in your best interest to make sure you can afford the good policy. I'm not saying the health care industry treats people differently based on money or status but I can't recall a member of Congress complaining about hanging out in an emergency room waiting area for help.

I'm hoping for change in the White House. Heck, I'm eager for change in the White House. I just don't think the change will have much of an impact on our day-to-day life. We are the only ones who can help us and we need to stop wasting opportunities.

Baracky: The Movie

Senator Obama may have taken a hard punch in Pennsylvania but that means he'll just have to fight a little harder. Hmmm...that reminds me of another guy who overcame tough obstacles.

Did Clinton's Campaign Make Promises to Canada About NAFTA?

Keith Olbermann thinks so. This story raises the possibility that it was Senator Clinton's campaign that contacted Canada about dismissing the rhetoric on NAFTA. If this is true, all of Senator Clinton's talk about renegotiating NAFTA because of the detrimental effect it has had on the Mahoning Valley is just so much hot air. We need to make sure both her and Senator Obama are held to the promises made when they visited the area.

Democratic Debate in Youngstown?

There is a lot of talk about a debate between Senators Obama and Clinton in Youngstown before the primary in March. Don Hanni floated the idea and even Senator Clinton seems to be behind it.

Youngstown deserves to be the scene of a debate. The area never really took part in the 90's economic boom and recovery from the last recession has stalled. The city and the rest of the Mahoning Valley are a microcosm of the entire industrial Northeast and Midwest that is suffering from high unemployment, crime and a shrinking population. This location is the perfect place for both candidates to explain their positions on crime prevention, education and health care. Youngstown, Detroit, Cleveland and other rust belt cities are all suffering from the effects of an economy that is slowing and transitioning from manufacturing to service and technology. We are prepared to ask tough questions whose answers impact us locally but are relevant to a wide swath of the country.

The Chevy Centre provides the perfect venue for such a debate. The candidates should make use of it.