Here
Al’s
Loupe Read Spanish Version
Happy
holidays! Here’s hoping for change in 2009
By
Alvaro F. Fernandez
alfernandez@the-beach.net
This
is our last edition of 2008. As is our custom, the Progreso Weekly
staff and our many collaborators will take a much deserved holiday
break. We will be back ready to take on 2009 with the vim and vigor
you’ve become accustomed to on Thursday, January 8th.
I
leave 2008 worried. Our economy worsens and the only solutions given
are to save those who helped to drive it over the hill. After January
20, I would hope to hear more mention of a people’s bail-out. Let
us hope that the Obama Administration tackles our problems by turning
this pyramid upside down -- or right side up, depending on your
perspective. It reminds me of a Tom Hartman radio program where he
discussed the government’s idea of a solution: more than 1.5
trillion dollars to a very few large corporations as a solution to
our problems. His solution: hand over the money to every worker in
the United States. Each U.S. worker would receive approximately
$60,000. Talk about stimulating the economy…
At
the local level things don’t appear to be much better administered.
Our elected leaders and their professional staffs (from the state
level to the municipalities and school boards) insist on cutting
budgets for services, education and much needed health care. They
tell us we’ve got to bite the bullet, that times are tough and that
sales tax money received (the foundation of our tax system in
Florida) is not what it used to be… but they still fight for a
publicly-financed baseball stadium in Miami while looking for
solutions for a publicly financed, but privately run tunnel to the
Port of Miami whose necessity is questioned.
Local
leaders also speak of adding a one dollar surtax on cigarettes to
make up for lost revenues in Florida. I don’t smoke, I hate the
stuff, but as usual, a cigarette tax can only be described as
regressive -- just like all increases to the sales tax. In other
words, on whose back are they scheming to bail out the state? It’s
not the large companies or the wealthy. If that was the case, they’d
be looking at the tens of billions of tax dollars exempted every year
from well-connected corporations and the well-to-do here in Florida.
On
another front, there is much speculation and jockeying for position
over the Cuba issue. President-elect Obama promised to eliminate
restrictions to family travel and remittances for Cuban Americans.
Most expect him to honor his word. But what of travel in general? For
any American… And will the new president engage Cuba respectfully?
No hidden cards. Sovereignty a given. We’ll see.
And
the wars overseas, will the U.S. finally pull the plug?
As
you can see, there is much to deal with. Much to keep our eyes and
ears open for. We must not let our guard down. As I told a friend
recently, as an American citizen I will support every good move
President Obama makes. If he veers from what’s right, I will oppose
him vehemently.
The
truth is that George W. Bush has left us with very little to work
with. The country is bankrupt and stuck in two wars. Max Castro says
it best in his column this week when he writes that our worst crisis
is that of “ethics and morality.” I agree.
But
every new year brings the hope of change. That possibility exists and
with a new Obama presidency in the horizon, I believe chances for
real change are greater than they’ve been, at least in my lifetime.
Let us hope for that hope and change Obama promised during his
campaign.
Finally,
I would like to thank the many Progreso Weekly readers who keep
growing as the years go by. Very special thanks go to those who make
Progreso possible with their generous economic contributions. And
last, but most importantly, my thanks and admiration to all the
columnists and behind the scenes people who make Progreso Weekly so
valuable.
Happy
holidays and I’ll see you in 2009!
