My Civic Duty

I trudged through two feet of snow yesterday to do my civic duty: buy a large-screen television. I saw an ad for Best Buy that caught my attention and off I went. Unfortunately for me (actually, the rest of the family since I really don't want another TV), the TV was out of stock and needed to be ordered. But since I was looking for immediate gratification I promptly lost interest.

However, I'm not one to let a little decision like buying a TV pass by without some fretting. So fret I did. Not getting the television gave me time to think about the conflicting messages we're getting right now in the midst of a struggling economy.

The state of CT, for example, is begging for money, and needs sales tax revenues to allow over-paid state workers to continue accruing time towards retirement. So should I buy a TV to generate sales tax to keep paying Governor Rowland - among others - his ill-gotten retirement (how do you retire from a job you didn't do in the first place - and get paid for it?)?

Or should I buy a TV from a Japanese company in order to help the US fulfill its core mission as the economic engine of the world?

Or maybe, by driving to the store instead of ordering online, I can help keep gas prices just a little more stable.

What about the savings rate, on the other hand. Shouldn't I be saving money and thereby providing banks with capital that they can lend out to homebuyers and businesses in the area (shades of 'It's A Wonderful Life')?

I'll bet you never knew that a simple purchase could carry so much potential for angst.

We can use more like him

Ok, I’ll admit I hate David Ortiz. He wears a uniform of the enemy. He was a nobody until he was claimed off the scrap heap from Minnesota and now that he’s in Boston he’s sold his soul to the Green Monster. Now, he’s a real “Godzilla” not to mention bearing a strong resemblance. Batting in front of who may arguably be one of the top five right handed hitter of all-time Manny Ramirez, they form an imposing challenge to anyone who toes the rubber. But remember I hate him.

But I have to take off my Yankee hat and stand and applaud this man. He chose to become an American citizen. He went all Red, White and Blue. He gets it. It’s great to see an athlete with some skill above the neckline. He’s not abandoning his native Dominican heritage; he simply has shown the understanding and appreciation what the United States has allowed him to accomplish both professionally and personally. In the fouled up sportsworld we live with, he’s providing a great sense of leadership. Keep it up and bring a few more in from the cold.

Next time though he digs in at the Stadium though…hard up and in.