Converting Magazine

Hey Mark, Good line of thought here. With presidential politics the major theme on the news channels (including coverage on “the chosen one” and his first real tour of the world), it is hard to keep in perspective that our country and our industry needs to get some help from those goofing things up. Regarding your question, what the next president needs to do….well from my perspective he (it is safe to use that word now) will have to: 1) Finish the job in Iraq and Afghanistan with or without the help of the countries who don’t like the way we are doing it but won’t offer us assistance to help save their own tails from terrorists. 2) Put a stop to the oppressive regulations that are strangling businesses. 3) Get the economy moving by getting out of the way, if they really want an economic stimulus package just reduce our taxes instead of just giving us our own money back. 4) Stop bailing everyone out for making stupid choices, when we were kids we learned not to do things because we were punished for doing them, how are we to learn not to make stupid borrowing or buying decisions if we are always bailed out afterwards, and how about all those who made the right decisions and did not get in trouble, now they are watching others get money and opportunity handed to them. What message does that send? 5) Drill and drill now off the continental shelf, in the Gulf and in Alaska, do it wisely and with the latest safe technology, and while you are drilling, work on the other technologies including solar, wind (that’s right T. Boone), nuclear, clean coal, and let us not forget oil shale. If OPEC wants to have someone’s neck in a noose, let it be someone else, we can take care of ourselves when it comes to energy (notice I did not say oil) if we have a mind to doing it, but it needs to include oil and drilling for now. OK, enough ranting, you got my Tuesday morning out to a rousing start, my second cup of coffee is done and my chest is clear, now down to work. I look forward to seeing if this line keeps going. Thanks Mark, keep it up. Kevin Karstedt – Karstedt Associates – Kevin@karstedt.com

I think it is going to take a lot more than the leadership of a new president to turn this country around. The Democrats have had virtual control of Congress for quite awhile with minimal meaningful results.