Seriously, what's wrong with our government officials. Today it was revealed that South Carolina governor Mark Sanford had cheated on his wife with a woman from Argentina. Earlier this month Sen. John Ensign of Nevada admitted to having an affair with a woman who had worked for him. Oh, there's also Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa; former New York governor, Eliot Spitzer; his replacement David Paterson; presidential candidate John Edwards; and let's not forget former Idaho Senator Larry Craig who was caught soliciting sex in a bathroom stall at an airport. Of course the lineage goes on much further than that, but you get the point.

Why is this? And don't say it's the pressure, there are tens if not hundreds of thousands of people who work in jobs where life and death stare them in the face every day. Perhaps since it's okay for the government to meddle in military sexual behavior with the "don't ask, don't tell" rule, maybe the government should implement a new rule for all government officials that says if you can't stay faithful to your own spouse, how can the people you're supposed to govern trust you; therefore you will be immediately discharged from your government position if caught cheating? What are your thoughts?

Labels: government, infidelity, military, real people, sex

If you have a hard time wrapping your head around all the terms flying around along with how credit or housing connects with the collapse that's taken place on Wall Street, watch this!

Labels: economy, government, money, news

Barack Obama has become not just the symbol of hope for the country, but it seems also for the institution of marriage. Newsweek offered an essay a few weeks back identifying Barack and Michelle's union (married at age 28 and 31) as the new model marriage. A union that reflects marriage statistics--men and women are waiting longer to get married, first establishing their personal and professional identities--and one of equality and respect. The essay highlights the fact that until recently, Michelle's resume was more impressive and his (mayoral assistant, nonprofit exec, hospital veep) earning her a six-figure salary. And while she has stepped down (for the time being) from her professional career, their union remains on equal footing. The article highlights an incident where Barack called home to crow his Senate victory and Michelle responded by asking him to run errands on the way home. So why all the hype?

Most millennials have yet to experience marriage firsthand, and what they've experienced by proxy hasn't been particularly encouraging: a 50 percent divorce rate, a steep rise in single parenthood, a culture captivated by cheap celebrity hookups. Even America's most visible household hasn't offered much hope, veering from '50s-era subservience (the Reagans) to boomer dysfunction (the Clintons). But now the Obamas—two independent individuals who also appear to be (surprise!) in love—have filled the void. For young people who have rejected the tired "wife in the kitchen" template but resolved not to follow their parents to divorce court, it's a relief to see that the sort of marriage they hope to have—equal and devoted—can actually exist.

Of course, reflecting on past generations doesn't mean that their marriage models didn't work or weren't as fullfilling, and many of them reflect the same kind of union as Barack and Michelle's. But there's clearly been disfunction as of late considering the high divorce rate and this is a chemistry young people have never seen in the White House. This doesn't mean that it's always, "happily ever after" either. In a recent People magazine interview, Michelle acknowledges, "we have a strong marriage, but it's not perfect." While perhaps not perfect, the new first couple is quickly becoming the aspirations of domestic equality, stability and bliss.

Labels: commentary, government, romance

Barack Obama has become not just the symbol of hope for the country, but it seems also for the institution of marriage. Newsweek offered an essay a few weeks back identifying Barack and Michelle's union (married at age 28 and 31) as the new model marriage. A union that reflects marriage statistics--men and women are waiting longer to get married, first establishing their personal and professional identities--and one of equality and respect. The essay highlights the fact that until recently, Michelle's resume was more impressive and his (mayoral assistant, nonprofit exec, hospital veep) earning her a six-figure salary. And while she has stepped down (for the time being) from her professional career, their union remains on equal footing. The article highlights an incident where Barack called home to crow his Senate victory and Michelle responded by asking him to run errands on the way home. So why all the hype?

Most millennials have yet to experience marriage firsthand, and what they've experienced by proxy hasn't been particularly encouraging: a 50 percent divorce rate, a steep rise in single parenthood, a culture captivated by cheap celebrity hookups. Even America's most visible household hasn't offered much hope, veering from '50s-era subservience (the Reagans) to boomer dysfunction (the Clintons). But now the Obamas—two independent individuals who also appear to be (surprise!) in love—have filled the void. For young people who have rejected the tired "wife in the kitchen" template but resolved not to follow their parents to divorce court, it's a relief to see that the sort of marriage they hope to have—equal and devoted—can actually exist.

Of course, reflecting on past generations doesn't mean that their marriage models didn't work or weren't as fullfilling, and many of them reflect the same kind of union as Barack and Michelle's. But there's clearly been disfunction as of late considering the high divorce rate and this is a chemistry young people have never seen in the White House. This doesn't mean that it's always, "happily ever after" either. In a recent People magazine interview, Michelle acknowledges, "we have a strong marriage, but it's not perfect." While perhaps not perfect, the new first couple is quickly becoming the aspirations of domestic equality, stability and bliss.

Labels: commentary, government, romance

Barack Obama has become not just the symbol of hope for the country, but it seems also for the institution of marriage. Newsweek offered an essay a few weeks back identifying Barack and Michelle's union (married at age 28 and 31) as the new model marriage. A union that reflects marriage statistics--men and women are waiting longer to get married, first establishing their personal and professional identities--and one of equality and respect. The essay highlights the fact that until recently, Michelle's resume was more impressive and his (mayoral assistant, nonprofit exec, hospital veep) earning her a six-figure salary. And while she has stepped down (for the time being) from her professional career, their union remains on equal footing. The article highlights an incident where Barack called home to crow his Senate victory and Michelle responded by asking him to run errands on the way home. So why all the hype?

Most millennials have yet to experience marriage firsthand, and what they've experienced by proxy hasn't been particularly encouraging: a 50 percent divorce rate, a steep rise in single parenthood, a culture captivated by cheap celebrity hookups. Even America's most visible household hasn't offered much hope, veering from '50s-era subservience (the Reagans) to boomer dysfunction (the Clintons). But now the Obamas—two independent individuals who also appear to be (surprise!) in love—have filled the void. For young people who have rejected the tired "wife in the kitchen" template but resolved not to follow their parents to divorce court, it's a relief to see that the sort of marriage they hope to have—equal and devoted—can actually exist.

Of course, reflecting on past generations doesn't mean that their marriage models didn't work or weren't as fullfilling, and many of them reflect the same kind of union as Barack and Michelle's. But there's clearly been disfunction as of late considering the high divorce rate and this is a chemistry young people have never seen in the White House. This doesn't mean that it's always, "happily ever after" either. In a recent People magazine interview, Michelle acknowledges, "we have a strong marriage, but it's not perfect." While perhaps not perfect, the new first couple is quickly becoming the aspirations of domestic equality, stability and bliss.

Labels: commentary, government, romance

If you're facing foreclosure and are located in any of the cities of Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New York or Phoenix then the U.S. Housing and Urban Development government agency would like to offer free mortgage delinquency and default resolution counseling. The program was developed to help those who face losing their home. Their may be other options, the first is to call your local HUD agency at (877) HUD-1515 or visit www.hud.gov. So does their counseling work? A recent HUD study noted a 55 percent increase in the number of clients receiving foreclosure prevention counseling between 2006 and 2007. Of the approximately 136,000 families that completed this counseling during 2007, 45 percent were able to remain in their homes while 14 percent ultimately lost their home through foreclosure. That's a pretty good success rate and definitely worth a phone call. To read the complete release, click here.

Labels: advice, government, housing, resource

If you're facing foreclosure and are located in any of the cities of Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New York or Phoenix then the U.S. Housing and Urban Development government agency would like to offer free mortgage delinquency and default resolution counseling. The program was developed to help those who face losing their home. Their may be other options, the first is to call your local HUD agency at (877) HUD-1515 or visit www.hud.gov. So does their counseling work? A recent HUD study noted a 55 percent increase in the number of clients receiving foreclosure prevention counseling between 2006 and 2007. Of the approximately 136,000 families that completed this counseling during 2007, 45 percent were able to remain in their homes while 14 percent ultimately lost their home through foreclosure. That's a pretty good success rate and definitely worth a phone call. To read the complete release, click here.

Labels: advice, government, housing, resource

If you're facing foreclosure and are located in any of the cities of Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, New York or Phoenix then the U.S. Housing and Urban Development government agency would like to offer free mortgage delinquency and default resolution counseling. The program was developed to help those who face losing their home. Their may be other options, the first is to call your local HUD agency at (877) HUD-1515 or visit www.hud.gov. So does their counseling work? A recent HUD study noted a 55 percent increase in the number of clients receiving foreclosure prevention counseling between 2006 and 2007. Of the approximately 136,000 families that completed this counseling during 2007, 45 percent were able to remain in their homes while 14 percent ultimately lost their home through foreclosure. That's a pretty good success rate and definitely worth a phone call. To read the complete release, click here.

Labels: advice, government, housing, resource