The Sunshine Empire

There’s been a massive amount of drinking in the last couple of days, and I am just now emerging into the world of moderate sobriety. I drove up and down the length and breadth of The Sunshine Empire as 2008 finally died and 2009 emerged into a world of fear and loathing. Many have cheered the end of 2008, but I will miss that year of chaos and financial turmoil. The worlds longest, most expensive and most historic election in the history of the nation brought us new hope. Yet the president-elect is not magic despite the RNC’s newest hit song. Things will not turn to birds and singing once the oath is delivered in D.C. Unemployment will reach double digits this year, and more and more businesses will go under. This decade was born of upheaval and violence and it will not be moving quietly into 2010.

The country is being remade politically and structurally. The American people hoping for the economy to be booming by May will be sorely disappointed. But this time could be helpful for the future. No more free money and loans from .com fly by night outfits. Hard work is the new Payday loan. Now is the time for patience to re-emerge in the American ethic. It will have to, because we have a long time to wait for the turnaround.