It's the Economy, Stupid

You can tell what's happening nationally by simply looking at what's transpiring locally...

For the past two weeks, something has been amiss with casual carpool and it finally became clear this morning. Not only has the line gotten longer, but the number of drivers has noticably decreased. The result, as with this morning, was a one hour commute door-to-door. But more importantly, it means that I've been getting in past 8am for work and that's not a good thing with early morning meetings. The explanation is simple--the price of gas. Given that the bay area has generally had higher fuel prices that the rest of the state, it's become clear the effect this is having on consumers. Couple that with the increase in the price of milk, other basics at Whole Foods or even Safeway, the cost of parking/taking Bart, and it serves as evidence the squeeze many are feeling.

My number finally arrived and I got into the car with the other 'poolers. We had a chatty driver and at some point the conversation turned to housing. He shared with us a story of his friend who was having trouble making the mortgage payment. His friend "John" had an interest only arm that was scheduleded to re-set at the end of the month. John worked with a mortgage broker who didn't properly explain what an I/O ARM was--the broker merely said that it was the type of mortgage John needed to get into his first home. The story didn't have a happy ending. John, like many folks these days, decided to walk away from the house and his mortgage payments all together.

We arrive in San Francisco, exit the car and go our separate ways. After logging onto the network and dialing into the conference call, my cell phone vibrates. Looks like mum was not able to convince Mamaji(uncle)about going to the Bollywood concert. Mamaji has been unemployed for over a year and the last thing he can afford to do is spend discretionary money on a concert--even if its Ash and Amitabh and Abishehk. I decide to take his place and of course, pay for the ticket.

Inflation, unemployment, the housing market, the credit crisis, call it what you will. At the end of the day, Bill Clinton said it best to the older Bush, "It's the Economy, Stupid."

Morcheeba is Back!

Barack Obama

I woke up this morning anxious to start the day. After stepping into the warmth of the sun in this new city, in my new neighborhood, the butterflies kicked into high gear. I held firmly onto the confirmation card--proof that I was registered to vote in the California Primary election. As a democrat, I looked forward to mulling over the slate of candidates running on our ticket for the presidential election. What other party, what other country, could you have a Latino, African American, Jewish AND female candidate all on the same ballot? My decision was easy and like most bay area progressives, Obama had won me over. His line at the Democrat National Convention 4 years earlier about, "...there's not a liberal America and a conservative America - there's the United States of America." along with his his views on politics as outlined in his book, "The Audicity of Hope" drew me in. You can read his entire DNC speech here:

As excited as I was voting for Obama, I had to acknowledge the fear of a "wasted vote." After all, Hillary Clinton had much greater name recognition and was considered the candidate to beat. But with politics as with personal choices, I wanted to ensure my decision was NOT based on fear. There were several friends who expressed an interest in Barack but they were afraid (primarily because of race) that he may lose to the Republican candidate in the national election. Basically, they had no faith that our fellow Americans would make a decision based on the best candidate. Pehaps my vote will be "wasted" as my vote for Ross in 1992. But there is something to be said for a candidate who can truly inspire and motivate a generation of young folks. He, along with Benazir, both give me hope for my country.

Benazir Bhutto

Thursday December 27th, 2007. I remember this date as most of us would birthdays or any national holiday. I woke up some 3.5 hours away from home at 11am shivering from the cold and alone in large house. I headed towards the kitchen to make a pot of tea and turned on the TV as a substitute for company. The gas flames provided such much needed heat to my blue nails and cramping hands. And as my body began to warm up, i began to to hear what was echoing from CNN. Something about an assisination....someone in a hospital and Bhutto. Its funny that your mind can put the pieces together but actually accepting what your mind concludes takes much longer. I ran over towards the set and cranked up the volume because even your ears can play tricks on you. "Benzir Bhutto sucuumbs to her wounds...Benazir Bhutto has been assisinated."

Rewind 19 odd years ago to 1988-1989 in a different setting and I can remember first hearing her name on TV. First hearing of a woman who became prime minister in the country that was once part of India. The woman who was leading a Muslim nation in the same vein that Indira had led a predominatly Hindu India at the start of the decade. Here in the US, sat this young impressionable naive girl thinking to herself, "Wow, if countries like India and Pakistan can elect female leaders, its only a matter of time before my country, the USA will do so too!" I remember how excited I was at the idea. I remember hoping that she was a better woman than Indira, who had massacred thousands of Sikhs at the Golden Temple during her term. I remember wondering if there were any minority communities in Pakistan, wondering if other religions were represented in Pakistan. Wondering and hoping she would unite her country and not divide it as Indira had.

Benazir Bhutto would be in and out of the news many times with her signature chunni covering her head as I grew up. She was not my hero or my role model, she represented something more important. I will always remember that brief moment in time when she gave me hope for my own country. Hope.