Lead the Way?

Posted on 3 November 2010 by Erik Hare | 7 Comments

Here it is. The day after the election that changed everything. So what does this new world of Wednesday morning look like?

If you take the long view, as I do, it looks about the same as Tuesday. Just as surely as everyone pronounced the Republican Party dead two years ago, the conventional wisdom has turned to call the Democrats and President Obama powerless. These events must all mean something, yes?

No, not really.

Events are one thing, people are another. Without leadership none of this will matter.

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Feminine Power

Posted on 1 November 2010 by Erik Hare | 6 Comments

With the election of Dilma Rousseff as President of Brazil, the fifth largest nation on earth joins the ranks of those who have had women as leaders. It’s not a short list. Nations as diverse as Chile, India, the United Kingdom, Argentina, Germany, and Canada can make this claim as well. Other major nations, like the USofA, seem to be a long way off before they reach this milestone – but you can never tell.

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Spooky Season

Posted on 29 October 2010 by Erik Hare | 2 Comments

It’s scary season! The doorbell rings, and it’s another zombie or pumpkinhead or witch begging for something sweet. No, I’m not talking about Halloween, I’m talking about the scary thing that comes after it – the election.

If you ever doubted our Founding Fathers had a sense of humor, keep in mind how that Election Day is right after Samhain, the Celtic festival when the land of the dead comes the closest to our mortal plain. Is it possible that they wouldn’t mind votes coming from graveyards?

Like Halloween, an election is nothing if you can’t make fun of it. Don’t be scared, join in the fun! There are many ways to do it.

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Hoax

Posted on 27 October 2010 by Erik Hare | 8 Comments

Some might call it a publicity stunt, but I prefer to call it a hoax – the “x” makes it sound more exotic. Yes, the whole “Something’s up in Lowertown” routine was just a little game that a few of us cooked up to get attention to a part of Saint Paul that’s been struggling through the construction that has ripped up their streets and made access nearly impossible. It was a pretty tame gag, really, and it appears that most people have taken it in the spirit of fun it was intended. But is it ever acceptable to lie to your customers?

By the way, that shirt really looks great on you – it brings our your eyes nicely!

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Work Creates Wealth

Posted on 25 October 2010 by Erik Hare | 26 Comments

As Democrats contemplate holding the minority position in Congress yet again, there are many ways we can handle it. We could all sit in the back and throw stuff, much as the Republicans did for the last few years. We could turn on each other and rip our own guts out in a festival of shame and blame. Or, if we’re intent on really standing up to our principles, we can use this time away from being the responsible ones and understand what it is that we, as a party really stand for.

We have a lot to offer if we can only get it together for once. But I, for one, think it’s going to take a much deeper understanding of our core values and what is really happening around us before we can make it happen.

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