Cutlerville Days takes place on the second Saturday in June. It ends with fireworks. And, since 1990, it has begun each time with the Brian Diemer Amerikam 5K Race. I hope you enjoy the photos, which you can view by clicking on this link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/39234393@N02/sets/72157619691112026/  - Jim ——————————————————— The Diemer Race represents the second leg of The Triple Crown Series in West Michigan, which includes the Spectrum Health Irish Jig 5K (March 21), and the Bank of America Reeds Lake Run 5K (June 27). The event is named after Brian Diemer, an Olympic team member in 1984, 1988 and 1992. Hundreds of hearty souls compete, but only four receive awards in each age group, with prize money going to the top 10. There is also a 5K Fun Walk, the Legacy Junior Jog, and a 1 Mile Fun Run. Immediately after the races, thousands of residents gather along a parade route on 68th Street that stretches for more than a mile. The photos and videos tell the rest of the story. This year, there was light rain, but no one seemed to mind. By afternoon, there was sunshine, and all kinds of music, food and festivities in Cutler Park. It was capped off by the annual fireworks display at South Christian High School. Some years, I sit and watch it from mile living room, a mile away. It all brings me back to my childhood. Ah, some things never change!

The news I want covered is the economy. The real economy and not this growing ember story out of Washington that suggests that we are in an economic recovery. We have lost over six million jobs and over 3.8 million homes have been foreclosed upon.  We are still losing over a half million job a month but the word out of Washington is: unemployment numbers are falling.

Why isn’t the Obama administration being more proactive for the people who voted him into office? It’s obvious that the guys in the very expensive three piece suits guide the economic policies in this country and from the look of that policy the gutting of the middle class is of primary importance.

It is rumored that Obama’s handlers won’t let anyone near him that disagrees with the current policies. How is that any different from the previous administration? Where is that fabled "change" that Mr. Obama spread across the nation like a mantle of peace and hope in the days that he stumped the country seeking votes and declaring that change was the operative word that would make his administration different?

The self-righteous always chime in when the issue of helping people who are losing their homes with "I don’t feel sorry for those people who signed for those ARM loans or bought more house than they could afford. I’m just fine and why should I help them?" The statements are callous and cruel. It’s like telling a hungry child "I have a nice warm dinner and dessert, it’s not my fault you choose the wrong parents." These same people don’t have a problem with tax cuts for the rich and most of them are far from being in the top 1 %, in terms of income, in this country. Old women/men and veterans are losing their homes. People who have worked decades and yet there is no help for these people.  The so-called foreclosure rescue plan floated by the Obama administration, the HART Plan is a sham. The plan only helps those who have never missed a mortgage payment. If you haven’t missed a mortgage payment, you don’t need help. If you live in a state like CA where a whole lot of mortgages do not qualify for Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loans are simply left to dangle in the wind because there are very, very few jumbo loans to provide a rescue to these people who may have lost a job or a fast heading towards foreclosure.

Paulson and Geithner decided to support the guys on Wall Street and the banks by making sure that they could wseather the recession. And who is making sure that the average American can weather the near depression that is sucking jobs and homes out of the economy at an alarming rate everyday? Yes, there are some people who care but none of these people are in the Obama administration.

What happened to that man who stated he most admired Abraham Lincoln? Obama’s words are eloquent but his actions are more than disappointing. To deal with the economic collaspe that may still be chugging like a locomotive towards total destruction, Obama and his crew need to be proactive in a way that puts real jobs back into the economy. This tap dance that the administration are doing with the bankers and Wall Street execs who are fighting being regulated in any way is simply insulting to the people who voted for Obama. Regulate the industry, demand that banks open their books and have their loan portfolios reviewed, ensure individual states that they will have the operating capital necessary to educate our children and provide for the disabled. To read that Obama intends to cut medicare/medicaid benefits in order to fund single pay health insurance is ludicrous. Can’t anyone in DC see that if the insurance companies that the single pay insurance is a good deal, that it’s a clear indication that they know their going to reap colossal profits? How else can they insure 47 million uninsured Americans unless the government requires everyone to have health insurance?

I’m too old to be an alarmist, but the journey upwind just doesn’t look to bright. It would be nice to have journalists just to report the facts and not just the soin of the day.  But I guess that’s just asking too much for a country caught in a handbag on its way to hell! 

Hoping every day for the economy to get better.

Hello

Protesters set up tents in downtown Detroit in advance of economic summit

Auto workers are expected to set up tents today at Grand Circus Park at Woodward and E. Adams to protest the gathering of big-business executives who will meet in Detroit this week for the National Business Summit.

http://detnews.com/article/20090614/BIZ/906140317/1361/Protestors-set-up…

and goodbye

The automotive industry’s restructuring has led to a reduction of nearly half of the manufacturing jobs in southeast Michigan since 2000, according to the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments.

The transportation equipment manufacturing industry — vehicle and parts manufacturing — has seen employment levels in the region drop by 59 percent.

The region has lost more than 446,000 wage and salary jobs — an 18 percent decline in employment.

And the bankruptcies of General Motors Corp. and Chrysler are expected to increase the region’s unemployment rate. Total job losses are expected to exceed 11,000 in the area’s assembly, stamping and powertrain plants.

http://detnews.com/article/20090614/BIZ/906140321/1361/Protestors-set-up…

and the biweekly installment from detroitblogger john (it’s about the people, people)

http://www.detroitblog.org/

Keep Calm and Carry On

The Iranian election is what I am finding quite interesting. I hope for the people of Iran who want change that they continue to fight for it. I believe the world is ready for change.