Welcome to 2009

New Year's Resolution: Blog better. Live Better.

Item 1: Corruption is certainly not limited to Republicans. It's too bad though; Mr. Richardson always struck me as an eminently sensible and effective politician. More complete info. on him here, if you care.

Item 2: Kudos to Neil Young for finally making the right argument - if the American people are going to bail the Big Three out, they should be funding the products of a new energy economy. Screw these 20,30, 40 mpg land yachts; the humans of the future (not to mention Mother Nature) need efficiency and convenience. Notice Mr. Young's plug, which I'll echo here, for Better Place. This company already has agreements with the governments of Israel and Denmark, and their plan seems like a good one. While we have these automakers over a barrel, why not mandate that they begin production on vehicles that fit this kind of plan?

Item 3: Pay attention to foreign policy! It can (and has) cost us much more in blood and treasure than many much-maligned domestic programs. Think the Vietnam, Drug War, Iraq, the myriad military bases of dubious necessity strewn across several continents (did you know AFRICOM just stood up in Stuttgart, Germany? The "dark continent" has yet to be imperialized...by America). Foreign policy becomes only more and more important as globalization progresses and we find ourselves entrusted with the roles and responsibilities of humanity's earliest "citizens of the world." [h/t Informed Comment]

Item 4: As always, an update on the marijuana legalization agenda. NORML's director is optimistic about opportunities for reform in 2009, but I think the first likely obstacle is already clear - Jim Ramstad, Obama's pick for drug czar. More info on Wiki. Maybe Bill Richardson shouldn't be the only one withdrawing his name... Time will tell, but I think Obama will need some reminding to stay true to his vision of fundamental change and reform in mind in all aspects of executive policy. Marijuana law reform would be a bold and potentially lucrative step toward bringing the role of government more in line with the popular will. Even Esquire is musing about the possibilities. although I agree with Jacob Sullum, that hopes for reform should remain realistic. Do it for the people, Barry!