Consistently Inconsistent

As news reports detailed the end of Rick Wagoner's time as CEO of General Motors, I could not help but wonder about the message Washington was sending. Granted, GM has not innovated. Granted, the American auto makers need a shake up and need to innovate. Having said that, I don't know that the President of the United States should decide who runs a company. Part of the beauty of capitalism is the separation between business and government. 

Just as curious to me is the treatment of Wagoner in comparison to other executives. Last week we found out about bonuses for those working for AIG, reasoning that contracts established could not be broken. How is it that the executive from one industry is forced to step down while another is financially rewarded? Both industries have been "bailed out" with banking/AIG receiving far more than automakers. How are some executives retained, while others are sent packing? 

Inconsistent behaviors are not transparent, somewhere along the line, I thought that is what we were promised.

Cheer, cheer for old Notre Dame........

President Rev. John Jenkins of the University of Notre Dame suggested this week that it is important to engage in dialog with people who do not share the same views when he was asked about President Barack Obama's upcoming speech at May's commencement exercises. He's right, it is appropriate for those who don't agree in our pluralistic world to get together and talk about differences, in hopes of finding common ground. Those who don't acknowledge their differences and try to work through misunderstandings are doomed to resentment and anger. He's also correct to point out that Notre Dame has a tradition of inviting new Presidents to speak (Carter, Reagan, and George W. Bush all did) to the graduating class. 

Popes have shared the view of Notre Dame's President. Pope Benedict XVI has met with leaders of other faiths, as did Pope John Paul II. Pope John XXIII met with representatives of the Soviet Union in the early 1960s during a clear time of tension between communism and the church. That said, none of them met with leaders or invited them to speak during major church events. No one with views opposite the church has been asked to address the faithful during Easter liturgies. 

Inviting President Obama to dialog with those at Notre Dame who hold values opposite of his policies is not wrong. However, inviting someone who is in favor of stem-cell research and has supported pro-abortion policies to speak at commencement is not appropriate. If Notre Dame sees itself as a Catholic organization, they cannot in good conscience invite someone who holds positions that are the complete opposite of church teachings to deliver the commencement address. Notre Dame has missed an opportunity to take a stand as a Catholic organization. Breaking the tradition of inviting first term Presidents to speak would send a clear message that the university opposes Obama's pro-choice views. 

Earth Hour

This evening at 8:30 pm, people from all over the world are asked to participate in "Earth Hour" where lights will be turned off for 60 minutes. It's an activity that is to unite the world to fight global warming and alert leaders of major nations to replace the Kyoto Treaty with a new policy that will better address global climate change. 

Make no mistake, I'm in favor of less pollution, cleaner air, and more efficient energy production. I'm concerned when scientists warn of a warming trend and what the long term effects could be. Having said that, I'm not quite sure what everyone sitting in the dark for 60 minutes will do to help the problem. Perhaps those organizing this movement would be better served to create a strategy to increase clean energy production or organize better approaches to recycling. 

Symbolic action and requesting government activity won't solve environmental concerns - practical solutions will. 

Sweet 16

The NCAA tournament resumes on Thursday, in my view, there's no better event in sports. Each year I sit glued to the television waiting for the upsets, drama, and excitement that go along with watching the some of the best college athletes in the country compete. As someone who is a fan of a mid-major (Go Grizzlies), I know there's nothing more exciting than seeing your team in the post-season. 

In these times of cynicism and anxiety, March Madness gives us something to enjoy, unwind with, and take a few hours to enjoy athletics. 

For the record, my final four includes Michigan State, Duke, North Carolina, and UConn. 

Politicians, agh!

Following the news this week, one could not help but notice the AIG bonuses that were featured almost everywhere. These bonuses, given to executives making far more than most Americans were funded by tax payers, and were the product of the Dodd Amendment to the stimulus bill that was passed and signed in February. Now, in real irony, the House has passed a resolution to tax 90% of the bonus money to reclaim what they voted to allow AIG to give people in the first place. 

More irony - Senator Dodd (D-Conn) indicated last week that he was not the author of the Dodd amendment, then revealed that he and the Treasury department had worked on it together. 

Yet even more irony - AIG has a political action committee (as most corporations do) and the biggest recipients of funds from them in the past year has gone to - Chris Dodd, Barack Obama, John McCain, and Hillary Clinton. To be clear, the Senator who chairs the finance committee and the three biggest contenders for the presidency last year received huge contributions from the same company that just gave away taxpayer money to employees in the form of bonuses. 

Some critical questions before I end my rant:

Wasn't the stimulus bill supposed to be reviewable by all taxpayers before it was voted on? 

Weren't we told to hold government accountable a few weeks ago?

Is this the "change" both parties said we needed?

In something as serious as spending billions of dollars, shouldn't the people voting on it have read the legislation? 

It's hard not to be cynical in times like these, no matter how much change arrives in Washington, not much appears to be different.