he market, they say, is seeking its bottom. Some think we are there, already; but they appear to be a growing minority. Now they claim, we should be buying, not selling. Is that a wise move? Maybe it depends on the time of day, particularly on a day and a session at the New York Stock Exchange like today. I turned off, tuned out and went for a run when Messer Dow and Jones were down over 300 points. And then it happened, the market turned around and by the time the session concluded there was an enormous gain of some 550 points. Does any of this gyrating action, within a few short hours, tell us anything about the state of our economy or those of other nations, from China to Germany, Britain, Japan (and so many more) who are facing their own crises and worries. Will it ever return to "normal" or is this to be the template for the future? Massive swings, insecurity, uncertainty, fear and anxiety.

They were called, for over a century, the Big Three automobile manufacturers. "What's good for GM is good for the nation" we were lead to believe. One might presume there was a time when the same aphorism applied to Chrysler and Ford. Now they appear to be on the brink of collapse. If there is a single reason for their dire situation, it might be that Detroit has insisted in turning out vehicles that didn't appeal to the masses. It can't be the work force, because the Japanese are assembling so many of their cars in this country, and they are made by US auto workers. Now the question facing the new president and Congress, should they be bailed out of their current predicament with many billions of the public's dollars. Should we do for the automobile manufacturers as we have decided to do for the banking and mortgage businesses. How long will it be before the car manufacturers will be back, hat in hand, needing another infusion of billions.? Maybe in a few months. If the purpose of government is to do for us what we cannot do for ourselves, then possibly the over 2 million workers and their families who would be thrown out of work (and home), should be saved.

A few days ago I suggested that the first major action taken by our incoming president should be to close down the Guantanamo Prison, which still houses 255 men, including 50 that the United States has cleared for release, but cannot repatriate, for fear that they will be tortured or persecuted in their home countries. At one stage we had over 750 held in the prison. We have held so many, for so long, in violation of their human rights, Over the past few days five human right groups have urged European governments to accept Guantanamo prisoners who cannot be sent home for fear of persecution. As the ACLU puts it, "Give us back the America we believe in."
We should counter terror with justice, particularly when speaking of those who have been unlawfully held for several years in violation of their human rights.

A man named Adil Shamoo is a senior analyst for Foreign Policy in Focus. He is an Iraqi American and a professor at the University of Maryland School of medicine. He usually writes on ethics and public policy. He has come up with an idea to make us think that I've not heard mentioned elsewhere. He has suggested that our new president issue an order to convert our gigantic and controversial new US Embassy in Baghdad into a university for the Iraqi people. What a message that would be from our new leader to the people of Iraq. Think about it, reports suggest that the US combat troops will be really on their way out in a couple of years from now and what a sign of goodwill that would be. But there is more; the gigantic Green Zone. What we leave behind will have a likely long-lasting impact on the Iraqi people and the larger Muslim world. Worth thinking about.

I wonder, if I watch TV this evening, how many shows will have Gov. Sarah Palin as a guest? Too many.
I wonder, did the Vice Presidential family enjoy entertaining the soon-to-be incoming vice presidential family? Probably the answer is "yes": they are political pros and besides Cheney is almost certain to return to his ranch/home and make many more millions.