Bailing out of a Crisis

I just have two things to add to this conversation:

1. You can't say you're a believer in the "free market" and "capitalism" and then support the government bailout, even if it is a crisis. In a "free market" we would just let our economy tank and wait for the crisis to pass. I'm not really advocating for this, just saying you can't have it both ways.

2. I believe that government should help in times of crisis, that's part of it's job (I'm still not sure I'm ok with THIS bailout, but in principle I agree). HOWEVER, this stands for every crisis. We currently have an education crisis, a health care crisis and a climate crisis. These are every bit as serious as an economic crisis, largely because they will eventually lead to economic crisis. Just because they don't appear to be as urgent makes them no less important. If we learn something from this financial disaster I hope it is to act in advance to avoid this kind of calamity in other critical elements of our society.

Granite Mountain (last Saturday)

Last Saturday I went for my last training hike...Granite Mountain, which is a TOUGH hike, but an amazing view. I'd say this is the second most amazing view I'm seen this summer (after Mt Townsend). And, at 5600 feet, it's turning to fall! I'm pretty much ready for Mt St Helens, now just hoping for decent weather on October 5th!

The lookout from the approach...

At the top!

Looking down at lakes

Looking down on Snoqualmie Pass

Looking north (toward Mt Baker)

Looking Northeast (toward Glacier Peak)

Looking East

Looking West

A patch of snow is still up there!

Preparing for Essay Writing Season

Thanks to my friend Clay for sending this to me!

Foggy Mt Pilchuck

It was a sunny day in Seattle, but foggy in the mountains! No complaining here though, after being HOT HOT HOT while hiking all summer. The fog makes for some nice photos, though:

We Need More of this...

From Barack Obama's Nomination Acceptance Speech:

what I will not do is suggest that the senator takes his positions for political purposes, because one of the things that we have to change in our politics is the idea that people cannot disagree without challenging each other's character and each other's patriotism.

The times are too serious, the stakes are too high for this same partisan playbook. So let us agree that patriotism has no party. I love this country, and so do you, and so does John McCain.

The men and women who serve in our battlefields may be Democrats and Republicans and independents, but they have fought together, and bled together, and some died together under the same proud flag. They have not served a red America or a blue America; they have served the United States of America.

America, our work will not be easy. The challenges we face require tough choices. And Democrats, as well as Republicans, will need to cast off the worn-out ideas and politics of the past, for part of what has been lost these past eight years can't just be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits. What has also been lost is our sense of common purpose, and that's what we have to restore.

We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country.

The -- the reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than they are for those plagued by gang violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals.

I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in a hospital and to live lives free of discrimination.

You know, passions may fly on immigration, but I don't know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers.

But this, too, is part of America's promise, the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.

I was going to write some commentary but I think I'll just let it speak for itself. More of this!! From all sides!! Coming together does not mean giving up our beliefs and values...it simply means to embrace that we all live together in a community (or we could if we chose to).