So, 2007 is about to come to an end and we will soon turn the page to start a new chapter. It's funny, I can still remember 1999 when people were afraid of Y2K in the new millennium and some even believed the world would end. It's has been 8 years since, and those who feared a catastrophic end are probably driving a BMW, whistling dixie acting like they didn't stock up on bottled water and batteries right before the millennium. People hysterically embrace paranoia and live under extreme fear of threat when there actually is no real danger, and ironically do the exact opposite when they are in harms way. Just look back at the last 8 years and all the things we have witnessed across the globe. With that said, I really believe 2008 will be an important and pinnacle year for us all.

I am sure most people agree that our current administration has driven our country into a dark hole. If you didn't know, the U.S has been on the verge of a recession. We spent the last 8 years watching and criticizing, but guess what...today our national deficit is roughly $9 Trillion Dollars. Now, let's be real, I have had a 5K balance on my credit card for 3 years and it isn’t getting any smaller. Its going to take the economy more than 50 years of positive growth to pay off this tremendous debt. Almost every other form of foreign currency is stronger than the U.S dollar. For the first time since 1976, the Canadian dollar is even with the U.S dollar. Keep in mind the U.S population is nearly 10 times greater than that of Canada. Basically, we work our lives away for money that is loosing its value by the minute. The worst part of it is that the people that gave us this debt, took the money from our pockets, increased unemployment, and fucked up our credit are straight coolin' out doing what they love best...waging wars. Recently, your favorite warmonger president just signed a $555 Billion dollar bill to keep funding America's favorite past time all throughout next year and I am not talking about baseball.

The only freedom we have now a days is consumerism, which after the last great movement (civil rights) in this country, has been used to placate the population. At times, we are like donkeys and consumer products are the carrot. The donkey just keeps running after the carrot even if the sand beneath its feet is slowly sinking. People are okay with a war and global warming as long as they have the freedom to watch American Idol or Grey' Anatomy. I mean does any one care that by 2013 the Arctic ice will have completely melted, forcing everyone to actually live through "The Day After Tomorrow" and it won't be something we can ignore or choose to turn off like a television.

Remember, we the people are the power, just like the mob in ancient Rome. We have the power to make change by just wanting it. So rise and shine, and wake up because it's about to be 2008. Build or Destroy, it is all up to us.

Peace,

Barmak Badaei