Ann Coulter took an opportunity  today to remind us how important this upcoming election is.  As usual, she's right.  The government seige of one-sixth of the economy(not to mention student loans) will probably mortally wound our economy.  Obama's promise to continue debt-based economic policy and willingness to let Bush tax cuts expire WILL destroy our economy.  Economists have been quoted saying "Invest in metal" if Obama is re-elected.  Know why?  Because he believes quantitative easing (printing money) is the magical solution to our debt problems.  The republic of the United States of America has ZERO CHANCE of survival if he is re-elected.  This is not an opinion.  This is not partisan rhetoric.  The only issue to debate is whether Mr. Obama is, as some believe, the progeny of 60's radicals bent on overthrowing the United States government from within, or merely a very liberal democrat who believes the government is the solution to all problems which the private sector is responsible.  I'm still not even sure which version I believe.  There is lots of compelling evidence for the former, yet the latter seems much more plausible.  They are answers to a question I never want to have to ponder: What set of ideals led to the death of America?

             Al Gore and Mike Bloomberg must be giddy.  Right now Sandy is bearing down on the east coast, causing mass power outages, billions of dollars in damages, and leaving scores of Americans homeless or displaced.  But think of how much less carbon will be emitted into the atmosphere!  I've also read the NYSE floor will be closed for the next couple of days(Though we're praying to Gaia trading will cease for the rest of the week.)  Think of how much money the capitalist pigs won't be making!  N.Y. alone will be like one huge "Occupy" rally.  The more I think about it, the more the the storm and its aftermath resemble the utopian leftists ideal way of life.  No one going to work, no one traveling to wherever they please, no coal-burning power plants providing cheap electricity, and best of all, no one going to church!  The downside of course, is this to shall pass.  Inevidably, power will be restored, airports will be up and running and the western way of life will carry on.  If not for humans (especially Americans') seemingly invincible spirit to overcome and compassion for those in desperate need, every week could be this great.  I guess we should just keep hoping for another disaster, natural or otherwise, that will bring out the worst in us rather than the best.

              My wife and I had an interesting arguement yesterday.  We had bought a pumpkin from the local supermarket to carve into a jack-o-lantern.  My wife had the bright idea of buying both kids their own pumpkins so they could both have their own to do with as they wish.  I promptly informed her that that was the dumbest idea I've ever heard.  I thought this might be an opportunity for family bonding and a lesson in cooperation for us as well as the kids.  My wife sees structure, disipline, and direction for children as oppression.  Now, I can get carried away at times in my Stan from American Dad approach to parenting, but I saw this as another submission to the child's will,  another senseless waste from giving kids things they didn't even ask for to prevent even a potential of disappointment. 
           In defense of my wife, she was raised by very strict parents.  She was prohibited from many seemingly harmless things most children take for granted, which prevented her from developing into a well adjusted adult like her peers(according to her).  Therefore, since her childhood was the absolute worst ever,(I've seen her championship belt) the right way to raise children must be to let them do whatever the hell they want, whenever they want.  I'm no expert in parenting, but try at least to ponder the consequences of decisions I make regarding how my daughter is raised.  In my experience, the more material things you give children, regardless if they are "deserved" or not (that's a debate unto itself) the more they will expect in the future and the less grateful they will be for what they have.  To me, they should be grateful we even have ONE pumpkin to carve.  Or can afford to buy Halloween costumes.(I'm resisting the intense urge of resorting to "when I was a kid...") But needless to say, most of my costumes growing up were of the homemade variety.  Of course, my wife ended up winning this skirmish, but I think I'm getting through to her little by little.  I want my kids to have a happy, worry-free childhood, as she does.  I just think its ironically easier for them to grow up truly happy and content if we allow them to be happy and content with less, rather than more.