Happy Thanksgiving

Yes, it is after Thanksgiving, but I hope you and yours had a great one. May the upcoming Christmas season be a blessing to you all.

Dale

Oprah's Leaving?

Yes, I saw the headline too. Of course I haven't found out yet why she is quitting her show. But then again, does it really matter? I mean, she's been on the air now for what seems like forever. Let's face it. Shows come and go. It's a fact of life. Eventually every television show ceases, whether by cancellation or voluntary retirement. Either way, the viewer always wins because something else will come along to take its place and we will eventually fall in love with a different show. So, be of good cheer! It will all be o.k.

Dale

Home Again, Home Again

Hi all! I guess you've noticed I was away for a couple of days. Today is my wife Becky's birthday, so she wanted to get away this past weekend. We went to Charleston, WV for some relaxing time. It's always good to get away every now and then, but it's good to be back home too. Although we were past the peak leaf season, it was still a beautiful landscape to view. Please write to me and tell me about some of your travels.

Thanks!
Dale

Merry Christmas - Oops, Seasons Greetings

Yes, it's that time of year again. Time for decorations, carols, family, and friends. As the holidays approach, I wonder if the Merry Christmas/Seasons Greetings tug-of-war will ensue again. Last year there were several companies who forbid employees from saying, "Merry Christmas," opting for Seasons Greetings or Happy Holidays instead. The argument in favor of the ban was Merry Christmas might be offensive to some whose religious beliefs collide with the Christian traditions of Christmas. I find this absurd, not because I am a religious fanatic, but because "Merry Christmas" is a holiday greeting, a well-wishing much like "Have a great day" used throughout the rest of the year. People should be grateful someone wishes them well, instead of criticizing the manner in which they do it. But, in today's world we are too quick to label everything one religion or the other, or one political party or the other. When will we realize we are all human beings, and rejoice in the common brotherhood of man? Rather than inspect each other with magnifying glasses, poking about for anything different from ourselves. So this holiday if someone wishes you "Merry Christmas," smile and be thankful they took the time to acknowledge you. And, may you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Dale

Economic Recovery

Are we really in the beginnings of an economic recovery? Some say so, while others aren't so certain. With unemployment continuing to rise, now over 10%, it bakes the question, "At what point do we reach bottom and begin to rise?" Of course we all know that unemployment is a lagging indicator, and the last thing to turn during a recovery. But our economy is much different than in the past. We used to see the normal highs and lows associated with manufacturing. Now that we have lost much of our manufacturing sector, economic cycles are much harder to predict. It's times like these I wish for the old days. At least then we could eventually count on depleted supplies of goods to require manufacturing to ramp up and pull us out of a recession. How do we pull out now? I suggest we use the money that is wasted every year on politicians' pet projects and pork barrel spending, and put it to use in the business sector through tax incentives for businesses to stimulate growth. Let's not dig ourselves deeper into debt with a national health care program. Instead, we could use some of the money our government wastes to provide health care for those who have lost jobs, and insurance as a result, without completely taking over the health care industry and putting insurance companies out of business, which would result in higher unemployment. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have to operate my household on a budget; a budget that can only sustain so much borrowing. Why can't the federal government do the same. It's time to rein in waste and pork spending before we reach the point of no return. If not for our sakes, let's end wasteful spending for our children and grandchildren. They deserve a bright future too.

Thanks!
Dale

Book Sale

Just finished helping the Archdale Library sort through the many books for their book sale this Saturday Nov. 14th. It looks to be a good selection and I hope they do well. If you are looking for a good book to snuggle up with on a cool weekend, may I suggest The Reckoning. Of course, I am partial since I am the author. But, it is getting great reviews. Please check it out at www.rdcrotts.com

Thanks,
Dale

Mid Term Elections

With the passing of the recent Health Care Reform bill in the House, many are speculating what this will mean for the mid-term elections in 2010. There are many on both sides of the Health Care debate, with most agreeing something must be done. Yet, each party has a different philosophy on how to get there. I found it amusing that Speaker Pelosi called it a bi-partisan vote when only one Republican voted for the bill. Now it will be up to the voters in 2010 to determine just how important this vote was, and whether they agreed with their representative's vote. For some, this is not a hot button at all, and will not influence their decision in November 2010. Others, however, will hold this issue sacred, and cast their ballot accordingly. It should be an interesting election, but will the economy improve enough by then to make us forget about the Health Care Reform Bill. I think not.

Dale
www.rdcrotts.com