I'm not usually a fan of Martin Feldstein, but I do appreciate this article he's written. He has very succinctly explained why saving money is now the new black in the US, even if it's not the best thing for our current economic situation. He also brings up some points that raise new questions for me. He talks about needing to borrow more money from places like China to finance new housing construction. I want to know why we need to have an economy based on building houses?

Since we are living in interesting times, just live everyone who visits CCN, I look wherever I can for something that makes sense out of these interesting times. I stumbled on this recent interview with George Soros from the Financial Times, http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/9553cce2-eb65-11dd-8838-0000779fd2ac.html which says it's about Soros talking about credit markets, which he does, but it also goes into greater detail about the life of George Soros and how he came to think about things as he does.

Am I the only one who sees the decline in the use of oil as a good thing? I'm really proud of human beings for finally taking control of their lives over the use of oil consumption. The places that depend on exporting oil as their only source of income should have been thinking of other ways to make money. One way or another, the demand for oil was going to fall. I'm hoping it keeps falling. That is the point isn't it? Trying to save the planet from global warming? Achieving energy independence?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/25/business/worldbusiness/25oil.html

Is this news about Musharraf stepping down in a few days rather than face impeachment the 3 a.m. phone call? Bush didn't handle Georgia well at all. How will he deal with who controls Pakistan? This is a thread to discuss our national security interests as related to Pakistan and how Obama or McCain might handle the fallout to come. Pakistan is nuclear. It's always been the place Wes has worried about the most, not Iraq, Iran or Syria.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/15/world/asia/15pstan.html?_r=1&em&oref=slogin

I have been a part of the Clark Community since it started in 2003, precisely, because I have observed what a national treasure Wes Clark is. Yesterday, Wes Clark walked point for Barack Obama in taking on the experience question on Face The Nation. When Wes walked point in Vietnam, he was shot 4 times. He didn't say anything on Face The Nation that demeaned John McCain's military service. On the contrary, he called him a hero. Wes Clark knows something about heroism first hand having taken those bullets and still seeing to the safety of the troops under his command that day.

It's pretty clear from reading this article that the prices we once knew as reasonable just aren't going to return. The price of oil and corn are going to remain higher due to global demand. Those two commodities impact the price of other foods we eat and products we use. It's time for all of us to put on our thinking caps to determine how we move forward from here to try and manage to have a reasonable life.

I was very heartened to read the comments in this photo album of Hillary's. I'm certain she was touched by the support from all of us who dug into our pockets to get her that $10 million. Many pledge to keep giving her more. I was touched by the comments from the fathers who have daughters and understand how really important this election is for them.

Pictures say more than words, so go have a look!

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/book/?sc=1596&utm_source=1596&utm_medium=e

Don't spill anything on the sofa. Have some popcorn and talk about whatever relating to the debate on MTV.

I watched that debate on TV, when the young woman asked that canned question of Hillary Clinton about which she preferred, diamonds or pearls? Everybody thought it was a powder puff question not unlike the boxers or briefs question Bill got when he was a candidate. Hillary told the audience that she wants both (diamonds and pearls.) In the background Joe Biden could be heard to ask they give all the candidates that question and then I could hear him saying, "diamonds." Who cares you might ask?