Doom and Gloom

First, I apologize to my sister Sarah for this post. She always gives me crap for being the Debbie Downer of the family but I am feeling really worried tonight about the state of the world. I try to be an informed citizen by reading the paper every morning, watching the news and the View (that counts right), and I occasionally listen to CNN radio in the car. I really can't take it anymore. After the news that Lehman Brothers filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy today and the stock market is in total disarray, I'm feeling very uneasy. I knew the economy was in trouble and I am aware that several banks have been forced to close but I figured it would all work itself out. This is America right? The land of opportunity and prosperity. The comfort I once took in being an American is now slowly fading. Is it possible that this is all George Bush's fault? I suppose it's impossible that one administration could screw things up so badly in just eight short years. I'm pretty sure the next president won't have a magic wand to fix the economy, global warming, the health care crisis, and our various conflicts over seas. Especially if John McCain is elected and dies and then Sarah Palin is our president!! I don't think Obama is much better either. Is this really the best we have to offer as Americans?

Then the news turns to another issue totally out of our control, Hurricane Ike and it's devastation. I hate devastation! I hate hurricanes, tornado's, earthquakes, really any natural disaster. Of course it hit right near our oil reserves so up goes the gas prices again. Does it ever end? Maybe I need to just stick to my mindless reality t.v. and celebrity gossip and pretend like my kids are going to have a secure future. I'm feeling like taking all my money out of the bank and hiding it under my mattress along with a gun and my passport. At least Randy added Earthquake insurance to our policy so I don't have to worry about that. I apologize again for my scatterbrained post that jumps from economy to natural disasters. Don't even get me started on the pine beetles that are destroying our forests!!! My brain jumps from one issue to the next every five seconds can you tell? I need to do some yoga or something stat...maybe I'll just eat a package of chocolate chips. That always makes things better until I start thinking I'll get the "beetes" (aka diabetes) from my excessive sugar consumption! "It's the end of the world as we know it, it's the end of the world as we know it, it's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine". I really don't feel fine but thanks anyway REM.