Goodbye, 2011; Hello, 2012
January 2, 20122011 is now reserved for the history books. Concerning its ‘rating’ in the minds of mortals, there will undoubtedly be mixed emotions. On a personal level some will say it was a wonderful year because of a loving marriage, a major promotion, an educational accomplishment, a large inheritance, or even a lottery win. Others will argue just the opposite due to the loss of a loved one, a foreclosure on a dwelling, a lost job, a failure at school, or a debilitating illness.
Nationally the primary story all year may have been political in nature: the beginning of choosing a Republican to challenge President Obama in November of this year and the constant gridlock in Congress. Others would vote for the far-from-resolved economic problems that beset our country with high unemployment and a struggling housing market. Of course the continuation of the war inAfghanistanand the ending of our military presence inIraqalso produced major news headlines.
Internationally, was anything most gut-wrenching than the Japanese earthquake/tsunami that resulted in the loss of thousands of lives and a major nuclear melt-down. Europe’s economic difficulties often movedUSA’s Wall Street on a yo-yo course;China’s growth both economically and militarily raised concerned eyebrows;Iran’s belligerent course of defiance in the face of international resolutions and sanctions grew even more troublesome; and the recent death of the leader of communistNorth Koreahas thrown an “unknown” into the international arena.
But of all the year’s stories the one that intrigued me the most – besides being the absolutely most unbelievable – was the report out of Washington regarding the testimony given to a Congressional Committee from former U.S. Senator and New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine. Concerning the missing 1.2 billion dollars involved in the bankruptcy of MF Global during the time Corzine was the company’s CEO, he was quoted as saying, “I simply do not know where the money is…”! Now look – all of us misplace things from time to time. Maybe it’s keys, or the checkbook, or the prescription the doctor gave, or a zillion other things – BUT – more than a BILLION George Washingtons?? I ask you – why not “look” for it until it’s found?? If I think I’ve lost $20 somewhere I’m going to turn my house, my car, my office (oophs – forgot that I no longer have an office – sorry about that!) upside down until I either find it or drop dead trying. What this situation says to me is how cavalier “money people” have become in these days. What’s a mere billion dollars when our national debt is in the trillions? Who really cares if we drop a billion or so now and then?
The only thing that I can say with absolute certainty is that the missing 1.2 billion will NOT be found in the wallets and purses of the American taxpayer. Last time I looked in my wallet that $20 was still missing. Oh, I just remembered – it went to pay the higher tunnel tollsMarylandenacted recently. And I had better start saving up for the new gasoline tax our Governor wants to enact. What a nice thought to begin 2012!
Jimmy Jackson, January 2, 2012
