This Web Blog was haphazardly produced without using Spell Check one danged time. We like it that way.

But that is not what I have to speak to you about tonight. Tonight I am most concerned that no politicians on either side of the aisle have stepped up to talk about the impending economic crisis in the United States, have not addressed the status of the dollar as opposed to the euro, have not talked about the astronomical price of oil, have not mentioned the sub-prime crisis - at least once! - or the mammoth deficit incurred by Mr. Bush.

The Bush Regime began with a surplus and is leaving us with a horrible budget deficit. I can't be the only one thinking about that.

We are becoming more a Banana Republic every day. We are becoming a place where there is no middle claass - only the very rich and the desperately poor. I KNOW that I am not the only person who sees this.

I walk down the streets of this country, which I once loved, and all I want to do is cry. Where is my country, I ask myself. Where is my country? And there is no answer to be had.

Not so oddly, friends of mine in Europe and Africa and Asia, also ask me, "What happened to America? We used to look up to you." Again, no answer comes - or not one a lowly writer like I can provide.

Or, perhaps, I can.

We succumbed to fear and corporatism. As Mussolini said, that is the formula for a fascist state. We lost faith in the good will of others. We decided to be sheep rather than decision-makers and are now flirting with the road to dictatorship. That is the truth of it. I know others are not willing to state the bald-faced facts but then my model is Cicero.

I have no hope for the Republic any longer. I realize that I live in the Empire. That does not mean that I am willing to relinquish republican values or that I shall mince words about the state of affairs.

The United States has become an imperial nation. We are building an embassy in Bhaghad that can be seen from space, like the Great Wall of China. We are doing so with borrowed money from China because we have little of our own. We have bases in over a hundred and forty countries on the planet.

So ask yourself the question I asked my guests on BlogTalkRadio.com the past Sunday: Looking into the future, who is the President?

Meanwhile, I actually had fun being put on the other side of microphone talking with Alan Levy and Hilary Leewong about what makes Lightning Strikes compelling and what makes social media work. You can download the show by going to Alan's page of BlogTalkRadio.com.

So here we are at the holidays. Another year about over. I shall, as usual, be spending the time working or alone. Nothing new about that.

If you haven't already, do check this out from Billy Joel. Cass Dillon does a great job here.

Merry Christmas from Fallujah.

There is only one way to support our troops: BRING THEM HOME.

BTW. here's a musical site and production studio that I like. I think you should check it out because he deals with indeprendent producers and artists. Always a good thing.

Do check out his Blog and his music. You'll be glad you did. I'll have MUCH more to say about his work over time.

Just so you know, Christina and I have some great guests on the Internet radio show in 2008. We'll open the year with Salt Lake City's Mayor Rocky Anderson and photographer and artist William Purcell. As he leaves office, Rocky has a lot to say. The show only gets better after that. You can join Christina in the chat room or talk to me live on air. But be careful. I'm dangerous.And the Lightning Strikes Group will return, of course. You never know what to expect from them.

SYMPHONY #2: MAN OUT OF TIME

First Movement

Perhaps I should begin this movement in the classical form.

Once upon a time there was a writer in Texas who attempted to point you toward things that might illuminate what is going on around us all but that some people seem to miss.

Because he was foolishly idealistic, he felt this was a mitzvah. While presenting himself as the most curmudgeonly of cynics, he constantly spoke of compassion.

Like most people, he thus presented a field of contraditions. The only thing to recommend him was that he suggested we should choose love over fear.

The reason, upon reflection, that he likely chose journalism as a profession was that he could get the opportunity to speak with a great many smart people. Those people, much smarter than himself, could provide him with knowledge about life and the future. Thus, he would not feel so much like a man out of time; perhaps, he could even feel in his own times rather than being from some other era. Just a thought.

He was a lonely child who grew up to become a lonely adult. He found love a couple of times, we are told, but it was always short-lived. He mostly kept to himself while writing to the world.

Then, I hear, he became a broadcaster. Still conversing with the same smart people but trying to be more public. That, in and of itself was an interesting transition. But you could tell the great sadness was still there - if you paid attention.

It was interesting to watch our friend soldier on.

When asked about his spiritual life, he would say that he believed, like Conan, in Chrom - the god who provides no answers. That was likely true. He was a pagan, after all.

When I last saw him, it was the Christmas season. As usual, he was alone. He was sitting on a stoop watching the sun rise and writing, too, as always. This time he was composing a story about a philosophical old man.

Cheers!

Keep me in your prayers as I keep you in my own.

Thanks for visiting.

Talk to you in a day or so.

Be well.