The following is reproduced from the Richmond, VA Times-Dispatch Editorial page from the 7/7/2008 edition.

Beware Charismatic Men Who Preach ‘Change’

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Each year I get to celebrate Independence Day twice. On June 30 I celebrate my independence day and on July 4 I celebrate America’s. This year is special, because it marks the 40th anniversary of my independence.

On June 30, 1968, I escaped Communist Cuba and a few months later I was in the United States to stay. That I happened to arrive in Richmond on Thanksgiving Day is just part of the story, but I digress.

I’ve thought a lot about the anniversary this year. The election-year rhetoric has made me think a lot about Cuba and what transpired there. In the late 1950s, most Cubans thought Cuba needed a change, and they were right. So when a young leader came along, every Cuban was at least receptive.

When the young leader spoke eloquently and passionately and denounced the old system, the press fell in love with him. They never questioned who his friends were or what he really believed in. When he said he would help the farmers and the poor and bring free medical care and education to all, everyone followed. When he said he would bring justice and equality to all, everyone said “Praise the Lord.” And when the young leader said, “I will be for change and I’ll bring you change,” everyone yelled, “Viva Fidel!”

But nobody asked about the change, so by the time the executioner’s guns went silent the people’s guns had been taken away. By the time everyone was equal, they were equally poor, hungry, and oppressed. By the time everyone received their free education it was worth nothing. By the time the press noticed, it was too late, because they were now working for him. By the time the change was finally implemented Cuba had been knocked down a couple of notches to Third-World status. By the time the change was over more than a million people had taken to boats, rafts, and inner tubes. You can call those who made it ashore anywhere else in the world the most fortunate Cubans. And now I’m back to the beginning of my story.

Luckily, we would never fall in America for a young leader who promised change without asking, what change? How will you carry it out? What will it cost America?

Would we?

Manuel Alvarez Jr. Sandy Hook.

…YOUR US government spent $85,000,000,000 of YOUR money, without consulting you, your Congressman, or your Senator.  And the purpose of this money? Feeding starving African children? AIDS research? Alternative fuel exploration? Scholarships? Nah.  The D.C. geniuses thought it prudent to save a huge insurance company’s ass from the sling it had spent itself into.  Nice…

Now, I am no economist, and as much as I would love to understand the esoteric inner workings of the US economy, I get the basics and that’s about it.  But my concern here, more than the mind-numbing number above and the corporate big-shots whose mistakes are being whitewashed, is the audacity of the government that is supposedly of, by and for WE THE PEOPLE.  No one asked me or my Senator if I am willing to pay for the mistakes of a private company, and yet here we are.  Is this even CONSTITUTIONAL?  We are spending money we don’t have, and it will be, if we are unwilling to change, our undoing.

Well, that was fun! For those of you still reading and looking for something a little more enjoyable, consider the following tid-bits:

Got my LSAT score weeks ago, and though I promised I would share, I was a little disappointed, so I did not share.  But I’m better now, so I’ll tell you that I got a 163 out of a perfect 180, which put me in the top 11% of all US LSAT-takers in the past 3 years.  Not what I wanted, but not bad after all, and should be good enough, along with my business experience, to get into here.  Application season opens 10/1. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

Judge Joe Grammer was elected 8/26, after hours and hours of sign installation, waving, forums, and general home town face to face campaigning.  He is now Bay County’s Group 4 County Judge, the first Bay County judge to EVER unseat an incumbent!  We are all proud to know Joe and excited about this tremendous accomplishment!  For my part, I will never be the same after my experiences with Joe’s campaign.

Which leads me to politics (after this, I’ll shut up).  If you have not registered to vote, please do so NOW.  In many communities, the deadline for registering for November General Election (11/4) is in early October.  Register, educate yourself, search your soul, and vote.  If you don’t add your voice when the roll is called, you’ll just have to keep your mouth shut when the complaining starts the day after.

As for me, I’m with this guyall the way, and I’m plugged into his local network.  So, if you’re a Bay Countian and you’d like to know where/how/when you can help elect John McCain, shoot me a note and I’ll hook you up!

One more thing, other than the economy (see first paragraph!) the other most important issue in this history-making election cycle is energy independence.  For the most part, D.C. is screwed up on this one too, but I think Mr. T. Boone Pickenshas the right idea.  Check out his plan and let me know what you think.  And if any of Mr. Pickens’ people are cruising the web looking for response to The Plan, I’m a believer! (I’d also love to find out how I can put my forthcoming legal education to work for Mr. Pickens and The Plan!)

Hope you’re all sleeping, eating, and feeling well.  Let’s catch up…