Category Archives: Politics

The Unsinkable Ship?

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In the early 1900s, a British shipmaking company called White Star Line built a massive cruise ship called Titanic, claiming it was so large and so well-designed that it was practically unsinkable. As Cal Hockley put it in the movie, “God himself couldn’t sink this ship.” As we all know, this was not the case.

As the news rolls in from Washington and the financial world, I can’t help but think about the spectacular sinking sequence near the end of the movie. The bow is submerged, slowly raising the stern from the icy water. Deafening creaks of steel from the dying vessel almost drown out the panicked voices and frantic footsteps. Finally the strain on the ship breaks most of it in half at midship with a mighty crash. The forward half of the ship goes under, pulling the aft to vertical for a moment before finally dragging it to its grave at the bottom of the dark Atlantic.

Although I’m no financial expert, I must admit that I wonder if the United States and our economy are similar to that tragic ship. Even after its $10 drop on Monday, oil is still very expensive with an uncertain future. The stock market is plummeting after Congress failed to pass the bailout package. The housing market is still in shambles. Few of us fully understand what’s going on and what it will take to fix the economy, so many are afraid. Hear the steel creaking?

Am I overreacting? Probably. But not one of us knows for sure what lies ahead. I cling to one thing on this ship to keep me sane: not the indomitable spirit of man, for man is broken and flawed. Not the power and incomprehensible wealth of the United States, because there are no guarantees they will last and many examples from history that suggest another power will take our place as the world leader. Not my wonderful family, which makes hard times much easier but can’t make them go away. I cling to the simple but life-changing truth that God is in control and has a plan for every one of us. I will fight to keep myself and my family focused on Him whether we relax on Lido Deck, huddle on a liferaft, or tread water and wait for rescue.

Alcohol Sales in Irving

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One issue on the ballot for Irving is a proposal to allow sales of beer and wine in Irving. This issue has been on the ballot twice over the last few years, losing by a large margin in 2004 and only a small margin in 2006. This time I believe it will pass because of the large voter turnout for the presidential election. The main area of concern is South Irving, the older section of town which has become lower-income and more run-down over the last couple of decades. Many residents consider most of the areas south of 183 to be in decline and fear that allowing alcohol sales in convenience stores, grocery stores, and liquor stores will only make things worse, leading to higher crime and further deterioration. Proponents of the bill argue that since alcohol is already available in nearby cities, those who want to drink will get their alcohol one way or another. Allowing sales in Irving would have little negative impact while making it easier for responsible drinkers who want to buy their beer or wine in Irving instead of driving to another city.

Right now, Jenny and I plan to vote YES because we want to be able to pick up a bottle of wine at the grocery store, just like we did in Euless and Keller/Watauga. South Irving is going downhill for a variety of reasons, including drugs, illegal immigration, and lax code enforcement. Putting beer and wine in the 7-11s won’t help the situation, but isn’t going to make that big of a difference, either.

The Issues

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The Star-Telegram posted a helpful article that lists where McCain and Obama stand on some of the main issues. I find myself waffling. I don’t agree with either candidate on every issue or even most issues. For example, I like Obama’s stance on Iraq but hate his support for abortion rights. I share McCain’s goal of balancing the federal budget but disagree with his support for a border fence. Sigh. I think I’ll write in Herb Kelleher.

Presidential Poll

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I must also congratulate Gov. Sarah Palin on being the first women chosen as the Republican VP nominee. She seems tough, smart, and energetic.

OK, now that the two main presidential tickets are set, let’s take a poll! Granted, we haven’t seen any debates yet, but what’s your call based on what you know so far? Vote on the right side of the page.

A Historic Night

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I’ve been trying to make AndyBox.com less political, but I do have to mention something about Obama’s speech at the Democratic National Convention. Like him or hate him, you have to admit that Thursday night marked an important milestone in our nation’s history. For the first time a biracial man (contrary to most media reports, he is only half black) is a party’s main candidate for President. He fittingly accepted the nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech. It’s easy to forget, especially for someone my age, that just a few decades ago public buildings still had separate water fountains for blacks and whites. Certainly racism is still an issue in 2008 America, but Obama’s very real shot at the Presidency shows how far we’ve come over the last few decades. And that’s all I have to say about that.