Lazy Post

I haven't updated in a while. I don't have anything to say. Here is a speech I wrote for someone running for Mayor of Chicago.

Good afternoon everyone. 

Many people in Chicago have asked me what I think the most pressing issue for our city is.  I don’t think it will surprise anyone when I say that jobs are my number one priority. 

Chicago’s unemployment rate is 10%.  That means that 10% of people who want jobs can’t find work.  This is unacceptable.  Now, I’m under no delusion that the unemployment rate is due to one politician or another. But it is our duty as elected officials to find and implement solutions.

I’ve got a couple solutions.  The Society of Civil Engineers gave the U.S. a D for our infrastructure.  They say our roads and bridges are in poor condition.  If we invest in Chicago’s infrastructure, we can put people to work fixing what amounts to the foundation of our economy.  So in the short term, we put people back to work and in the long term, our economy is fundamentally stronger than when we got into this recession.  People say that all roads lead to Rome.  Well I want all well paved, uncongested roads to lead to Chicago.  I want every mile to be magnificent.  And so, I think our road to recovery is quite literally going to be a road.

But we can’t just create jobs for now and pretend we’re done.  The economy is changing.  And we must change with it.  We need to make sure that people are educated and trained for well-paying jobs located right here in Chicago.  Some people say we need to take pay cuts to remain competitive.  I disagree.  Bringing ourselves down won’t make this city any better off, but raising ourselves up will.  We shouldn’t settle for jobs beneath us, we should reach for jobs that uplift us.  I want to bring jobs to Chicago that people will be passionate about. Green technology, clean energy, communications, healthcare, small business, these are the industries that will define the future and we need to make sure the people of Chicago are ready.

Chicago has always been the capital of the Mid-West, but never more so than in the days of the American frontier.  Land was abundant, and so was opportunity.  Anyone brave enough could stake a claim and earn his fortune with some hard work. 

A lot of people say there is no more American frontier, that America is done growing.

They’re wrong. 

Frontiers are all around us. There are still discoveries to be made, risks to be taken. It’s true that we’re no longer moving westward, but we are always moving forward.  I want Chicago to be the new frontier.  I want people to come to Chicago to make good on their dreams.  Chicago will always be the old capital of the Mid-West, but I want Chicago to become the ideas capital of the U.S.  

Politics

In my last post, I briefly introduced the purpose of the blog and, to some extent, myself. For those of you who don't know, I'm a student at American University in Washington DC studying Political Science and Economics. Washington. Politics. It makes sense.
Coming into college I was pretty gung-ho about politics. I was ready to fight for liberal causes (as I am a liberal) and get Democrats elected (as I am a Democrat). And while I still keep up with politics and could see myself going into the field after school, the whole business has started to seem kind of unappealing to me.

Maybe it's just today's political culture. No one likes division and everybody would like for everyone to get along. I'm certainly not an exception. But from what I read, I get the feeling that a lot of people in our government have forgotten that. Republicans oppose policies and legislation for opposition's sake. They don't take an open, honest look at the content of a proposal. They ignore facts in their speeches and frame their arguments towards the negative. And I'm depressed because I know that if Democrats were in the minority, they'd probably be doing the same thing.
My dad has always said that I'm a really laid-back guy and he's right. I hate making a big deal out of small issues and I tend to let others have their way if it's not really important to me. Don't get me wrong, I'll put my foot down if it's something I care about, but for the most part I try to avoid drama.

Politics, or at least national politics, has become about making a big deal out of small issues. Health care reform was a big deal. The "death panels" were not. But I still had to hear about it for months on television. I get the politics of it. Death panels make people angry and it gets them fired up. I don't want my leaders to make me angry though. I want to be inspired.
I'm only taking one Government class this semester, Political Speechwriting. It's a lot of work, but I love it. I get to read great speeches in (mostly) American history. Reagan, FDR, the Kennedys, even Lou Gehrig. In times of fear and sadness, these men managed to make people forget all the bad things that were happening. They made people want to be better and work harder. But when I left class the other day, though I remembered that people aren't doing that anymore. I don't think you can inspire people by trying to say "bailout" or "destroy social security" 50 times in two minutes. I don't want to do that. I like writing speeches, but I don't want to do that.
It's alright though. I've still got two years before I graduate.

Hey, it was really no problem.

Hey guys.  I've been thinking about starting a blog for a while now, and I know that you all have been thinking about what I've been thinking about for a while now too.  This google thing seems like the perfect way to fulfill all our needs. And guys, I don't want you to feel guilty about this blog.  I know that it seems great for you and time-consuming for me, but remember, I've been thinking about starting it for a while. So really, it's no problem.

I've wanted to start a blog for some time now.  It's not so much that I think my thoughts are that worthwhile, it's more that I'm really excited about the careers out there for a blogger.  I love reading blogs. I love reading things on the Internet, be they newspapers, magazines, top-ten lists or, of course, blogposts. And being a college student, unsure about the future and looking for a potential passion, blogger seems like a great job. A blogger gets to wake up and read all the things he loves to read, comment on them, come up with new ideas and then get paid for it at the end of the week. That might be something I'd like to do.

The first post of any blog should always explain why the blog exists, the reason for the rambling. Maybe I've made it seem like I've started this because I like other blogs, or because I want you to know what I'm thinking about. Honestly though, I'm just jealous of my friends who have gone abroad for the semester and have great excuses for starting blogs. It's great to go to an exotic place and keep your friends and family updated on your international escapades.  But I'm selfish. I want you to know what I'm doing regardless of my location. And something tells me you all really want to read what I have to say. It's not that I'm super interesting; ya'll are just really bored. That gives me an opening. I know you're busy, but let me entertain you in those few moments you get to yourself. I'm not always going to make you laugh, but making you think will be success enough.

Please though, give me feedback and criticism.  I can't promise you profundity or prolificity, but I'll try my best and I'll listen. If there is something you want commentary on, tell me. If there is something you don't like, let me know.  If you really enjoy my thoughts and you want to get more personal, keep in mind that I'm into ladies, and then consider giving me a phone number.  Seriously though, I hope we're off to a good start.  Please enjoy the blog and if you're don't, tell me or read something else. Whatever. I don't need you. (I do, I'll just never admit it. This doesn't count)