The year ahead...

2010 has finally arrived, and I wish everyone a very Happy New Year!!! New Year's is my favorite holiday. This statement usually garners strange expressions from people. Most people want to know how New Year's Day could be anyone's favorite holiday considering it is a celebration of just a day that happens to begin another year. I, however, find it to be an incredible blessing to be allowed to remain on this earth to see another year (the gift of life is always something to be celebrated). I also find that New Year's day is the one day out of the year where people are genuinely hopeful about their future, and they actually have faith (no matter what your religious affiliation) that their lives can be better tomorrow than it is today. 2009 was certainly a whirlwind of a year politically beginning with the inauguration of America's president (it was a moving moment in history, but it was freaking cold!!! I still have flashbacks every now and again, brrr.) to the passage of the healthcare reform bill in the Senate right before Christmas. Now that we have arrived at 2010, there is a lot of work that has to be done to continue to move our local, national, and international communities forward.

First, Atlanta held the inaugural ceremonies for our new mayor, Kasim Reed. It looks as though there is a change happening here, and we now have some new, young faces at the helm of city leadership. It will be interesting to watch the changes that our new mayor and city council president, Ceaser Mitchell implement. For all my Georgians, come November, we will elect a new governor. This is the time for us to start getting informed about the various issues facing our state and our individual cities. We need to take a hard look at the candidates and the positions that they have on various issues. Georgia, like most states, has been plagued with budget deficits, a failing healthcare and education system, a shortage and debate over water supply, out dated transportation systems, and most recently a state congressional scandal that is making things look extremely bleak for state Republicans. Over the coming months, I will discuss the candidates and their political stances on my blog. Once an informed decision has been made, the most important thing that we can do as citizens is go to the polls and vote.

Second, 2010 is the year that healthcare reform must be put to bed (ASAP), and the job situation has to be front and center for President Obama. The number of unemployed Americans is still relatively high. A new plan for resolving this issue needs to be created and implemented, and it will have to happen this year. The war on terrorism is another issue that needs some serious review by leadership. As we all know, a terrorist attempted to blow up a plane headed into Detroit on Christmas Day. The young bomber claims to have gotten his "materials" in Yemen. Okay, if Osama Jr. got his "materials" (and instructions which he clearly DIDN'T read. I guess suicide bomber isn't a career option for more educated, young men.) in Yemen, why have we been fighting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?? A war on terrorism can not be fought in any one country. If American leaders don't accept this one concept rather quickly, our young soldiers will be planted in the Middle East for the rest of our lives. Furthermore, if we continue to invade, occupy, and destroy other people's countries, they will only re double their efforts to come here and try to destroy our homes.

Finally, this is a huge election year for Congress. The balance of power in Congress will be determined by the coming election in November. It seems to me that Americans are always excited and geared up for presidential elections. However, when it comes time for midterm elections, we lose our gusto, forget about them, or simply don't care enough to go and vote in them. I would argue that this would not be the year to have that type of attitude. Now, obviously, not every seat in the House and Senate are up for re-election, but for those people sitting in districts where there are seats up for election, you need to start educating yourself on the candidates now. If you are an Obama supporter or Democrat, you have some big decisions to make about how you are going to vote in November. The Democrats did get a little lily livered toward the end of 2009, and there are many people that would like to punish them for caving on a number of issues ( I don't entirely disagree with this thinking). However, if people choose to put Democrats out of office in November, they could just swing the power in Congress into Republican hands. If President Obama can't get his agenda through Congress now, will he really be able to pass anything with a Republican controlled Congress? If he can't deliver on some of his 2008 campaign promises, what will his chances in 2012 be? There is no doubt that Democrats are in serious trouble come November, but the ultimate decision lies in the hands of the voters. Democrats need to wake up, smell the coffee, and realize this fact so that they can make a better case for keeping them around. Republicans have a little bit of an easier job because their base will be out in full force come November due to their hatred of this president and Congress. Republicans, however, should not count their chickens before they are hatched. They still have yet to propose any ideas that will offer real change to this country. As with the Georgia gubernatorial candidates, I will periodically discuss various congressional seats up for grabs and the candidates seeking them in my blog. With the retirement announcements this morning made by Sen. Dodd of Connecticut, Sen. Durgan of North Dakota, and Gov. Ritter of Colorado (all Democrats), 2010 is already looking to be an exciting and interesting political year!