$13,725,166,759,183.46 = our national debt

I repeat, $13,725,166,759,183.46 is our national debt.

I've always been told that "money doesn't grow on trees" but it seems that our country thinks so.

And so do many of our politicians... like Hugh Jidette. 

Read that last sentence aloud.

Did you catch on that his name sounds like “Huge Debt”?

Hugh is a fictional character that is part of a very clever PR campaign put on by OweNo.com.

He is "a fictional presidential candidate who has been created to capture the attention of the nation and bring to light the facts about our federal fiscal challenges and the threats they pose to our nation’s economic future." He certainly does capture attention. I had the tv on and was only half-listenting to his hilarious commercial called "Borrow Like There's No Tomorrow" which drew me in and led me to their wonderful website.

According to OweNo.com, "official government projections show federal debt doubling by the 2020’s, tripling by the 2030s and even quadrupling by the 2040’s. That means that, unless we change our course, $13.6 trillion could grow to more than $50 trillion."

Here are some even more frightening facts from their website:

• National debt averages out at a staggering $44,000 for every person in America.
• The number of people aged 65+ is projected to double, aka more people receiving more benefits which = MORE debt.
• $200 billion = what our government spends every year JUST on interest payments. AND, we get nothing for that money; much of it goes oversees to countries who own our debt. 
• By 2027, interest would be the largest item in the federal budget.
• Eventually, interest would take up 100% of all of the money the federal government collects - aka no money would be left to pay for things a government should do like education, research, development, etc.
• Owing so much to foreign countries could give them unprecedented and unacceptable influence over us.

How does all of this happen?

It is pretty simple. The website states, "Here’s how we’ve gotten to this point: The federal government has to borrow money when the revenues it collects are not enough to cover the amount it spends — a budget deficit."

And it is a significant deficit:



But this site is not just a downer. They offer several possible solutions.

In particular, they focus on the need to tweak the federal budget which currently breaks down as follows:

1. Healthcare: 36%
2. Social Security: 23%
3. Everything Else: 21%
4. Defense: 20%

Crazy, right?

This is even crazier; According to their website:

1. Healthcare: The U.S. spends twice as much per person on health care than most other countries; furthermore, healthcare represents 44% of projected federal spending by 2040, and is the largest and fastest growing fiscal challenge.
2. Social Security: In 1950, there were 16 workers paying taxes to support 1 retired person; by 2040, there will only be 2 workers for each retired person – this creates a big shortfall of money in the system.
3. Everything Else: This includes things such as agriculture, transportation, homeland security, education, unemployment benefits, national parks, international relations, and the operations of government.
4. Defense: The United States spends more on defense than the next 14 countries, combined.

If you'd like to join Hugh and those at OweNo.com, then click here to get involved with this great campaign.

Say "Oh yes" to "OweNO!"

Speak Out Before There is No One Left: Stop Bullying Now

Watch this powerful 41 seconds from MTV's fabulous campaign: A Thin Line.

It is so well done and so accurate. Words are etched into our memories if not literally etched with ink into our skin.

And watch this sweet anti-bullying ad.

Just one person standing up for another is incredibly powerful. And we all should; here is a reason why:

First They Came 

by Pastor Martin Niemoller

In Germany they came first for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. 

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist. 

Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. 

Then they came for me, and by that time no one was left to speak up.

This past September alone, there were four very public deaths of gay students who commited suicide - because. of. bullying. 

We cannot be silent as those around us are relentlessly bullied. 

We have to speak up... for the red heads, for the LGBT community, for the "uncool" kids... ANYONE facing this daily torture. 


Stop Bullying Now.
 

Growing Up and Growing My Network - Center for Women's Speed Networking Event

Monday night made me an adult. Or at least it made me feel like one.

I walked into the Center for Women’s 9^th Annual Entrepreneurs Networking Event, wearing slacks and carrying my first set of official business cards. I went in as a senior in college overwhelmed by my future and I left encouraged, empowered, and informed with new contacts and job options.  

I wish every senior had the opportunity that I did. Lucky enough to be serving as the Center for Women intern, I planned to attend the event to help them but I did not realize how much I would be helping myself.

Entering a room filled with tons of tables and wonderful women, I found my place at the correctly numbered table. Each table was numbered for 3 different rounds of speed networking, which was much like speed dating only, at the end of the night you end up with job opportunities rather than romantic ones.

And I certainly did end up with opportunities – many of them. Throughout the two hours I was able to meet and exchange business cards with almost 30 women!?! I have already received an email, a phone call and a LinkedIn request… all from one evening.

I have been told over and over again in college that it is more of who you know rather than what you know.  

I cannot think of a better or more enjoyable way to increase who I know than an event like Monday night’s. It was so encouraging to see women excited and motivated in what they were doing for themselves and for the community. I walked away with job opportunities and contacts but, more importantly, empowerment to feel like I can truly make an impact in my community, as was evident in each of the women I met.

As if this was not enough, the event also increased what I know as well. The incredibly eloquent and entertaining Dr. Elaine Yarbrough spoke on Women’s Wisdom. She had startling statistics and revealing data on how women are disadvantaged starting as children in elementary school classrooms up to working women in the board rooms. Fortunately, she also shared advice on how to support other women and stand up for ourselves in the office, home, and community.

I now feel like I have a jumpstart to do just that because of this event and all the great connections I made there!

If you want to join me, be sure to check out the Center for Women and become a member if you aren’t already.

Annnnnd, be sure to come out to the 10^th Annual Entrepreneurs Networking event in 2011, especially if you missed the fun this year!

Wake Up Yourself John Legend: Where are the women workers?

Wake Up Everybody is a great song but NOT a great video.

Since I recently watched and fell in love with Waiting for "Superman," I heard and fell in love with John Legend's song in the movie as well.

But, upon watching the music video, I have changed my mind a bit.

The  lyrics call out for help over and over:

Wake up everybody
No more sleepin' in bed
...Time for thinkin' ahead

...There is so much hatred
War and poverty, whoa, oh

...The world won't get no better
We gotta change it, yeah
Just you and me

...Wake up, all the builders
Time to build a new land
I know we can do it
If we all lend a hand

....The world won't get no better
If we just let it be, na, na, na
The world won't get no better
We gotta change it, yeah
Just you and me

...Wake up, everybody
Need a little help, y'all
Yes I do, need a little help

Need a little help, y'all

Need a little help y'all

Wake up everybody
Wake up everybody

Again, lyrically, it is a beautiful song. 

The problem, however, came in the music video: Watch the final bit of the video, starting from 3:50 where they call out that they "need a little help y'all." 

It seems that he is only referring to the male workers when he says "y'all;" the following MEN are all presented in the last minute or so of the song: 

• doctor (with a female patient in the background)
• cop
• a man in a suit - perhaps a teacher or a lawyer?
• cab driver
• construction workers 

The ONE AND ONLY WOMAN is presented in that same group of images... with her three kids. Disclaimer: I am not at all belittling mothers... I want very much to be one when I am older. 

However, I am belittling this video. Women can be more than mothers.

If John Legend really wants the world to change then he should engage the other half of the population. 

The sad thing is that his version of "Wake Up Everybody" is not original. 

It is a remake of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes title track from 1975!?! It has been 35 years since that song was originally released!?!

And there is still "so much hatred, war and poverty." 

We need to wake up EVERYbody.... men and women. 

The world won't get no better
We gotta change it, yeah
Just you and me

...Wake up, all the builders
Time to build a new land
I know we can do it
If we all lend a hand

My Heart is Broken... Just like Our School Sysem

Everyone deserves an education.
But some aren't getting it.

Our nation has failure factories,
Rather than a road to success.

The only way into a good public school, for many,
Is a lottery.

Their number being pulled.

LUCK.

Not merit.
Not a test score.
Not motivation or desire.
Not even money.

Just a random number.
Just dumb LUCK.

Wake Up Everybody. 

 My heart is broken.
Just like our school system.

I saw Waiting for "Superman" tonight.

It made me cry.
Kids actually WANT to learn.
And. They. Can't.

Cause someone didn't pull their number in a raffle.

We have reduced children's dreams,

And their potential,
To a number.

Which more times that not,
Isn't called.

What does this mean?

 Our system is failing them.
They are failing.
And our country will be doing the same thing,
If we don't change things.

Please go see the movie. 

It's hard to say this,
But I hope your heart becomes broken too.

So you'll do something to fix it.
And our school system.

Let our children shine.

I'll be writing more soon...